Dianna (Erickson) Gavlak

Dianna Erickson Gavlak, 81, of Carroll Vista Community- Taneytown, passed away on April 2, 2025. Born on November 20, 1943 in Portage, Pennsylvania, Dianna moved to the DC metropolitan.  area along with her friends and her future husband, John Gavlak.  Dianna was the daughter of the late Charles and Mabel (Campagne) Erickson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, John Thomas Gavlak; and sisters, Brenda Erickson and Candance Gearty. Dianna worked for NSA in Fort Meade, MD. She was instrumental in running the detachment office and shepherding the analytic studies thru the army intelligence production process.  She was a warrior in the “shadows”. We are proud of her.  She retired from the government in 2002. Dianna was a member of Carroll Vista in Taneytown, MD, where she made many friends throughout the years. She loved her community and would frequently get together with her group of friends to go out to eat or dance. Dianna loved to decorate and shop. She had an eye for fashion. She loved to entertain and had a ‘gift for gab’. She was incredibly supportive and a kind person to have in your circle.  Dianna will be dearly missed by those who knew her. Dianna is survived by her loving daughters, Cindy Wasilewski and Jack and Kristine Amendola and husband, Christian; grandchildren, John Derik Wasilewski, Kyle Thomas Wasilewski, Cecilia Rose Amendola, Zachary John Amendola and Noah Valentino Amendola; great-grandson, Arlo John Wasilewski; siblings, Judy Layo, Jon Erickson, and Melissa Snyder; and her loving partner, John Purnell. The family will welcome friends on May 10, 2025 for the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m., at Holy Family Parish, 509 Caldwell Ave, Portage, Pa 15946, with Father Tom Stabile, celebrant. Memorial contributions can be made to either Glioblastoma Foundation (https://glioblastomafoundation.org/) or For Pete’s Sake-Woodloch (https://give.takeabreakfromcancer.org/campaign/662052/donate), an organization near to her heart. The Gavlak family is being served by the Serenko-Claar Funeral Home, PC, Portage. Online condolences may be made at serenkoclaarfuneralhome.com.

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