Diana was a graduate of the class of 1982 of Mary Carroll High School. In recent years, she was employed by Child Protective Services and most currently, she was an independent consultant for Paparazzi Jewelry.
She married the love of her life Alex Barrios on June 24, 2004. Together with her son Nathan and her stepdaughter Courtney, they formed their blended family.
The best way to describe Diana is by one phrase, “she was the life of the party”! She was born with a jolly happy soul, her love for parties, music, dancing, and entertaining was obvious. She so enjoyed cooking for family and friends she did not need a special occasion to throw together a huge delicious meal and invite everyone. She also enjoyed hosting backyard BBQ’s each time her beloved Dallas Cowboys played & covered dish nights to watch professional boxing matches.
Diana was a very LUCKY LADY too; she LOVED playing Bunco, Bingo, Slots, Black Jack, and Lottery scratch off tickets often winning the “BIG Bucks”! She was super friendly and made friends everywhere she went. At the DaVita Dialysis Treatment Center, everyone loved her. She actually held the first official title of “Social Coordinator” because she initiated bingo days, costume contests, and other fun activities for all the patients. Diana was hilarious, loud, and crazy at times; she had a great sense of humor and a special talent for telling jokes and stories that would make you laugh hysterically. It definitely made her happy to be the center of attention and to make others laugh. Diana had her own unique style for fashion, her wardrobe included Zebra & Leopard prints, denims, and jewelry that was all about the “bling”! In 2003, she was featured in an issue of the C.C.C. Times “Closet Snoop” where she explained about her version of the “emergency disposable girdle” and how “it could suck in the gut of all guts” very comical but true.
She dedicated much love and exceptional care to her son Nathan, who has special needs, and has survived way beyond expert expectations due to her dedication. She had a loving, kind, and generous heart and always made you feel welcomed in her home. She offered a helping hand to family, friends, and strangers alike, frequently having houseguests for months at a time. She brought joy and laughter to every life she touched. Diana was a gift to all who had the pleasure of knowing her, and all who knew and loved her will truly miss her.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Adela D. and Ignacio Hernandez Sr., her sisters Maria G. “Goya” Tristan, Dora Hernandez, Alicia Cantu, several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She is survived by: her husband Alex Barrios, her son Nathan Hernandez, her stepdaughter Courtney Barrios, her grandkids Izabela Reyes, Anmaree Reyes, Victoria Reyes, Orlando Garcia II, her mother-in-law Maria Christina Barrios, her 2nd “mom” (Memaw) Susana B. Escamilla, her sister Rose (Alex) Ochoa, her brothers Robert Hernandez (Vivian), Danny Hernandez (Virgie), Ignacio Hernandez Jr. (Christina), her brother-in-laws Gilbert Barrios Jr., Marty Barrios (Connie), and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family would like to thank Nathan’s providers Roxy Mireles, and Rae and Debra Martinez for always going the extra mile for Diana and Nathan, especially during this difficult time.
Visitation will be held at Memory Gardens Funeral Home on Monday, July 8, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a Holy Rosary to be recited at 7:00 pm that same evening. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 at 10:00 am with interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
