Minnie Ann Diss

Minnie Ann O'Dorisio Diss, age 87, passed away January 30, 2016, surrounded by her adoring family. Minnie, baptized Domenica Anna, was born July 3, 1928 in Pueblo, Colorado to Fred O'Dorisio and Lucy D'Orazio O'Dorisio. She attended Central High School in Pueblo, where she played shortstop on the softball team, sang in the chorus, and starred in many plays. She received a scholarship to Loretto Heights College in Denver where she majored in speech and drama and minored in Latin. She was especially honored as prefect of the Sodality of Mary her senior year. She graduated cum laude in 1950 and was inducted into the Kappa Gamma Pi Honor Society, with whom she was active throughout her adulthood. Minnie's teaching career included positions at St. Mary's Academy, the Denver Public Schools, and the U.S. Army base in Frankfurt, Germany. It was an ideal orientation for her subsequent career as devoted mother of ten children. She extended her deep love, consideration and compassion to all of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and longtime friends, with whom she maintained many special times and traditions. Minnie met Bill Diss at a collegiate debate competition. They married in 1952 at St. Dominic's Church in Denver. After a short stay in Germany, where Bill served his active Army duty, the couple resided in Denver, Colorado until Bill's death in 2014. Minnie's last home was at her daughter Catherine's house in Lone Tree, Colorado. Community service was an important part of Minnie's life. She was the chair of the board at St. Mary's Academy and also served on the boards of the Archdiocese of Denver Board of Education, Crest Club of Regis University and Head Start. She was a leader of Girl Scouts and Great Books groups. She founded the Archdiocese of Denver speech program and served as speech and drama coach at St. Francis de Sales School. She was a council member of St. Francis de Sales Church in Denver, receiving the Parishioner of the Year Award, and was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Minnie is survived by her children Martha Sundby, Theresa (Fred) Greis, William C. (Cathy) Diss, John (Lisa) Diss, Lucy (David) Ewing, Fred (Annette) Diss, Beth (Steve) Robertson, Catherine (John) Gordon, Sarah (Guy) Warren, 28 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter Eleanor (Mike) Sabin, sister Rose, and brothers Angelo, Carl, Ben, Fred and John. Visitation (5:30 p.m.) followed by the Rosary and memorial tribute (6:30 p.m.) Thursday, February 4, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3020 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO. Funeral Mass Friday, February 5 at 10 a.m., St. Francis de Sales Church, 300 S. Sherman St., Denver, CO. Donations in Minnie's memory may be made to: Regis University 3333 Regis Blvd., Mail Code B20, Denver, CO, 80221; St. Mary's Academy 4545 S. University Blvd., Englewood, CO 80111; and to Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children Foundation in memory of Eleanor Diss Sabin, M.D., 2055 High St. Suite 240, Denver, CO 80205.