Carol Diane Gibbs

Carol ‘Diane’ Gibbs passed away peacefully at her home in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 28, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ.

Born in Kokomo, Indiana on the 23rd of June 1933 to Olive Henry, Diane was a sweet, kind and talented child. She began taking piano lessons when she was six years old and performed in many piano recitals in her youth. An accomplished pianist, organist and keyboardist, Diane shared her musical gifts with the world, playing piano and organ for St. Joseph’s and St. Augustine’s (Kalamazoo), St. Mary’s (Paw Paw) and St. Catherine’s (Portage) Catholic Churches for over fifty years. She continued playing until she could no longer feel her fingers or hear the music. Thanks to her many years on the piano, her children grew up hearing and loving all kinds of music, from Classical to Big Band, Hymns, Broadway, Boogie-Woogie, light rock, Christian and church music. She would sit down and play all types of music without having the sheets in front of her.

In addition to music, she enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting, ceramics, China painting and square dancing. Her children would tell you that she made the best homemade spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf dinners and lots of yummy cookies and desserts.

Diane married the “boy next door” and love of her life, Harry ‘Jack’ Gibbs on March 18, 1951 at the First Baptist Church in Kokomo, Indiana. Two years later they started what was to be an amazingly large family when they welcomed their first child, Ronald Lee. As the years passed they welcomed Colleen Sue, Robert Edward and Alan Patrick. The family relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1961, where Anne Marie, Michael Anthony (Tony) and Stephen Christopher were later born into the fold. Always the doting and caring mother, she lovingly raised her seven children and cherished her 24 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and the time spent with each one of them. Although they moved to Michigan, she always considered herself a Hoosier and loved going back down to Indiana to visit her mother and all of her cousins whenever she was able to do so. She spoke often about her life growing up in Kokomo and living on the farm with her grandparents.

Her love of family was only surpassed by the love of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She became a Catholic in 1958 and was parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and later St. Monica’s for over 60 years. While at St. Joe’s, Diane was member of several prayer groups to include the Good Shepherd Community and The Community of the Lord’s People where she made many lifelong friends. She joined the Legion of Mary and was certain that they found their first home in Kalamazoo because of the Mother of Perpetual Heart Devotions. There was never a day that she did not sit down with the Bible in her lap and her Rosary in her hand.

Diane loved being at home with her seven children, but also found time to sell Tupperware, Avon and Home Interiors. She loved going to garage sales, flea markets and finding any good

bargain. She truly loved beautiful things; flowers, fine and “country” furniture and the wonderful Southern style homes that she and her husband Jack visited in Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina and Florida.

She was preceded in death by her mother, her husband, Harry ‘Jack” Gibbs, her son, Ronald Lee Gibbs and grandsons Kristopher and Ryan Gibbs.

Diane is survived by her two daughters, Colleen Stewart and Anne Gibbs and four sons, Robert Gibbs, Patrick Kelley, Michael (Tony) Gibbs and Stephen (Erika) Gibbs.

Family and friends are invited to visit Tuesday, May 5th, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Adams-Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo. The Rosary, led by Deacon Kurt Lucas, will be recited at 6:30 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 6th, at 11:00 a.m. by Father Daniel Hyman, at St. Monica Catholic Church, 534 W. Kilgore Rd., Kalamazoo, with a luncheon after.

Burial will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Monica Catholic Church or Centrica Care Navigators. The family would like to extend a special “Thank you!” to Zita and Amy for their outstanding care of her this past year.