Dianna Emily VanDerwerker - Obituary

ianna Emily VanDerwerker (77) of Fort Washington, MD, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Born “en route” to the hospital in Northern California on April 29, 1948 to Mario and Emily Maldonado, Dianna spent her childhood growing up in Washington DC, the Philippines, and San Francisco, CA. A woman of multiple talents and lives, her proudest accomplishment was being Mother to four daughters: Delani Cashion, Dewi Cashion, Shanna VanDerwerker (Justin), and Ashley Simmons (Sean). From working at Hot Shoppes as a waitress, to a secretary at George Warner Plumbing Company where she moved up to deciphering the plumbers’ bad hand writing, creating bills in accounting. She then shifted into real estate, where she met and married John VanDerwerker, and eventually started her own business, Dianna’s Custom Costumes & Dancewear all while raising her girls. She always taught her family you can do anything you put your mind to. Dianna was the definition of resilience and determination. “Family is everything” was not only what she taught her children, but how she lived her life. She even became known as “Mommy V” to her children’s friends, loving and supporting them as her own. The times that made her the happiest were cooking and baking for everyone, especially her traditional tacos, holiday sticky buns and carrot cake, taking care of her grandchildren, and a recent return to the game of Mah Jong. Dianna is survived by her daughters, six siblings: Mario Jr., Rebecca, Anthony, James, David, Jeffery and her grandchildren: Tessa, Ciara, Erin, Kaia, Bodhi, Gavin, and Caleb. Dianna’s strong legacy of family, love, and perseverance will live on through everyone around her and she will be dearly missed by so many. She left us to reunite with John in eternity 1 day shy of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorial donations be sent to Michael J Fox Parkinson's Foundation in her honor. A Celebration of Life will be held July 11, 2026, details to follow.