Diane Zellner

There was no greater joy in Diane Zellner’s life than sharing time with family, especially her husband of 63 years Art and their grandchildren. She died Aug. 16, 2025. She was 85.

She was proudly known as Grammy, the name the grandchildren chose for her and used by all who knew her. A nurse by profession, Grammy retired after 25 years in nursing to provide childcare for grandchildren Chase, Paige and Grant. Grammy and Papa (her husband Art) taught them how to play and enjoy life while building strong foundations for future life success. Arts and crafts and wonderful excursions were part of everyday adventures. In raising her children and grandchildren, she was a caring affirming force in their lives, teaching them to always be their authentic selves and encouraging them in whatever they chose to pursue.

Diane is survived by her loving and completely devoted husband Art Zellner, daughter Lisa Zellner (Marianne Steger), son Eric Zellner and three grandchildren, Chase Zellner, Paige Zellner (Andrés Mujica), Grant Zellner and several nieces and nephews. She was thrilled to know before she died that Paige and Andrés would be wed and that her first greatgrandchild is on the way (they have told only her the gender and name).

She was born March 9, 1940, in Mansfield, Ohio, to Paul and Madalyn (nee Foss) Schiska. She is predeceased in death by her parents, brother Dave Schiska and sister-in-law Anne Marie of Lakewood.

She graduated from Mansfield Senior High School in 1958 and earned her degree in nursing from The Ohio State University in 1962. She initially worked at OSU Hospitals before spending the majority of her career as nurse for Dr. Ernest Melaragno in Hilliard.

Diane enjoyed travelling with Art around the globe on trips that included a cruise through the Panama Canal and multiple visits to her beloved Hawaii. It is her wish that her family will scatter her ashes in the ocean surrounding Kauai. A lifelong Buckeye fan, the couple also travelled to several football games on the road and were glued to the television for all games they did not attend. When the buckeyes weren’t playing well, you could hear her yell at the tv.

Diane loved her Hilliard home surrounded by beautiful trees. She loved animals and enjoyed making quilts and doing cross stitch, and in her younger years knitted sweaters and sewed clothing for many family members. Diane and her close girlfriends called themselves the Hilliard Hussies. She even had a license plate bracket boasting that name.

The family will welcome friends on Tuesday Aug. 26th from 6-8 p.m. at Tidd Funeral Home, 5265 Norwich St. in Old Hilliard. To honor Diane, in lieu of flowers please donate in her name to Shriners 855-425-1948 or St. Jude 800-805-5856.