Diane Lee Albury Ryder

Diana "Poozie" Albury Ryder, 68, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and adopted mom to so many loving friends, passed away on May 28, 2015 after a brief battle with cancer. Poozie, as she was known by all who loved her, celebrated life to its fullest each day, despite a lifetime of health challenges. Stricken with polio at age 5, Poozie learned at an early age what it meant to be a fighter. She was a 21 year survivor of breast cancer, fought diabetes for more than 22 years, and also battled renal failure for the past 7 and a half years.

Poozie never let any of life's challenges get her down. Always quick with a joke and a laugh, she was usually the life of the party and forever ready to visit with friends or receive an unexpected guest. In 1973, she married her husband, an animal-loving man from Maine, who had served his country proudly in the United States Air Force. A devoted mother to three beautiful daughters, she was also a proud "softball mom", spending countless days in her home-away-from-home at Fletcher Park in Pembroke Pines watching her daughter Becky play softball and traveling with the teams to chaperone as they competed in other cities. Poozie always made everyone feel like family, offering a ready ear and an open heart to all. From her children's closest friends and teammates to beloved next-door neighbors, she "adopted" new family members throughout her life that in turn loved her dearly.

Her most treasured relationships, however, were those with her grandchildren. She could never have been more proud of the shining stars in her life, David, Charles and Savannah. In addition to her grandchildren, Poozie is survived by daughter Debbie Ryder Grosse, daughter Becky Ryder Seyss, son-in-law David Seyss, and daughter Lindsay Ryder. Also, she is survived by her brother-in-law Gary White, niece Genie O'Loughlin and her husband Mark, nephew Keith White and his wife Theresa, and great-nieces Courtney and Ashlee White. She will be missed as well by her loving extended family and numerous dear friends. Poozie rejoins the love of her life and late husband, Charles Ryder. 

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at the Fred Hunter's Funeral Home at 6301 Taft Street, Hollywood, FL 33024. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m., with a brief service at 7:00 p.m. A gathering for friends and family will begin immediately following the service in the Community Center located adjacent to the funeral home.

Provided by Noreen Sours Olson