Diane "Cookie" Dziergas (nee Behnke), 77, of Ormond Beach, FL, passed away on April 7, 2022.

Cookie was born in Detroit, MI on June 16, 1944 to Louis and Rose Behnke.

Cookie graduated from East Detroit High School in 1962. While attending East Detroit High School, Cookie met the love of her life, Mike Dziergas.

Cookie and Mike married on March 2, 1964 in Mount Clemens, MI. Cookie and Mike were blessed with 58 years together. Their love story spanned many years, with several adventures and so much love, including two children they adored.

Cookie especially loved working in her garden, cooking, decorating her home and most importantly, taking care of her family, and her job at Sears. She adored her grandchildren and took advantage of every free moment to spend time with them. She will always be remembered for being outspoken - in a good way. She advocated for those less fortunate, and regularly donated to St. Jude's Hospital. She was someone who could spark up a conversation anytime, anywhere and always had the ability to make everyone feel welcome.

Cookie wouldn't hesitate to help in any way she could. From helping her children and grandchildren moving on to their next adventure, to reaching out to her kids' friends, she always made herself available, decorating homes, hanging wallpaper, babysitting - there were no limits to her generosity. It even went as far as making pineapple upside down cakes for the mail carrier. She was kind, compassionate, and always wanted to show people they were loved.

Cookie suffered from ALS, but it never robbed her of her beautiful spirit, including her spunk and feistiness. We quickly learned that "no" will always and forever be her favorite word. In the end, she might not have been able to walk or talk, but she never lost her ability to express her love. In her final days, when her loving husband leaned over to kiss her, she was able to "pucker up" and show the love of her life that she indeed loved him right back. When her children and grandchildren visited during her final days, her eyes lit up with joy, and she was happy to share a hug and so much more with them.

Remaining to cherish Cookie's memory are her husband, Mike, daughter, Ann (Jim) Heibeck, son, Michael (Judy) Dziergas, granddaughter, Michelle, grandsons Dino and Darin, and brother-in-law, Larry (Colleen) Leksutin. Cookie is also survived by many nieces, nephews and family friends.

Preceding Cookie in death are her parents, Louis and Rose Behnke, in-laws, Edward and Pauline Leksutin, and sister-in-law, Lyn Riccobono.

The family is planning a private service to celebrate Cookie's life. Memorial donations in her memory may be directed to St. Jude's Hospital or the ALS Association.