In Memoriam
Diane Efaw, RN, BSN
December 14, 1959 - December 26, 2006
Diane Efaw was a nurse dedicated to
giving and on December 26, 2006 she gave the ultimate sacrifice in her quest of
helping others. She was one who gave hope, love, and the gift of health
and life to many. While in public with family and friends, someone would walk up
and reintroduce himself or herself as the person with a sick child that she had
taken care of, or the child of and elderly parent that Diane comforted in their
final moments of life.
Diane's healthcare career began in
1978 when she became a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician. She was
accepted to Fairmont State College in 1981 and obtained her Associate Degree in
Nursing. From the beginning of her
career in Pediatrics and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, through a position
as a transport nurse, to the Emergency Department and finally the skies, Diane
had the chance to grow as a nurse and human being. Diane's motivation took her back to
school. While working full time in the Emergency Department Diane attended
classes and graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Nursing in 2005.
Diane left the confines of the institution
in 2006 and spread her wings as a flight nurse with FlightSource of Morgantown,
where she developed a love of flying.
She was able to practice nursing on a one to one basis, which she loved
because she could spend hours talking with a patient, calming them and learning
about them. The way nursing used to be… She also
had autonomy, which fueled her free spirit. She became a volunteer
firefighter in June 2006 as well.
Diane was comfortable with fast paced, long
hours without breaks, and cramped working conditions. She spent Christmas
with her family and departed on December 26th for a routine patient flight. Enroute to Teterboro, NJ the medical
airplane she was riding in encountered icing and diverted to Johnstown, PA. Both Diane and the pilot were killed on
impact when they crashed at the airport during a landing attempt.
Diane leaves behind a husband and two sons
as well as a number of grieving friends and co-workers. Many will miss her and the number of
lives she touched in her 47 years will never be known.
The Diane Efaw Childrens' Assistance Fund (DECAF) has been established at the Fairmont Federal Credit Union. All money collected will go directly to her children. Deposits can be made at any branch of the credit union or mailed to the Fairmont Federal Credit Union 401 Tenth Street PO Box 2139, Fairmont WV 26555-2139.