The Life and Legacy of Diane Trader

Early Life:

Diane Trader was born on July 12, 1950, in Camden, NJ. She was the eldest child of Catherine Council-Paige and Robert Cooke. Diane was raised lovingly by her grandmother Rachel. Diane spent her early years deeply rooted in faith at Antioch Baptist Church located in Camden, NJ. After her grandmother’s passing, Diane continued attending Antioch Baptist Church with her two brothers. After Diane’s mother gave her life to Christ, the family’s devotion to worship grew even stronger. Diane often reflected fondly on those early years of her life that had an abundance of powerful preaching, strong church leaders, and spirit –filled services that shaped her lifelong walk with God.

Strength Through Challenges:

Diane’s life changed profoundly at an early age with the loss of her mother which placed tremendous responsibility on her young shoulders. She was caring for her brothers, while attending school and working evenings and weekends. Despite many challenges, Diane earned her GED, wrote gospel songs, sang with local groups, and purchased her first home at a young age. Diane nurtured her family with unwavering determination and trusted in God to carry her through every season of her life.

Career, Courage, and Miracles:

Diane built a diverse and inspiring career which included service in the Camden, NJ, Police Juvenile Division and later at Garden State Cable. In 1990, her career journey eventually led her to Trauner Consulting Services located in Philadelphia, PA. Only two months into her employment at Trauner, Diane received a life changing diagnosis of advanced ovarian cancer. Through a series of unexpected events, skilled physicians, and divine intervention, Diane survived what many believed was impossible. Despite receiving a report from medical professionals that did not forecast more than ten years of life after the surgery, God had other plans for her life. Diane always considered her healing to be a miracle from God, and a testimony of His sustaining grace.

Faith, Family, and Fulfilled Promises:

Music remained one of Diane’s greatest joys, and she served faithfully in multiple choirs throughout her life. Her path in 1988 led her to Baptist Temple Church located in Camden, NJ, where she met and eventually married her devoted husband, Roy Trader. Together they later joined Bethany Baptist Church located in Somerdale, NJ, where Diane served as a Deaconess, sang on several choirs, and served faithfully with the PROMISE Nursing Home Outreach Ministry until her health prevented her from serving. God continually blessed her with desires of her heart. Above all, she cherished her family, celebrating the blessing of children, grandchildren, and great -grandchildren. Diane’s life was, in her own words, “A testimony of the goodness of the Lord.”

Diane’s cherished loved ones include: Her loving husband, Roy Trader, her parents (pre-deceased) Catherine Council-Paige and Robert Cooke, her siblings, Frank (Yvette), and Anthony (pre-deceased) (Vandalies pre-deceased); her children, Ramon, Di-Anna, James (Marsha), Robert, and Catherine; her grandchildren, Sharonda, Johnnie, Quashwn, Quashelle, Emmanuel, Quachir, Ramon, Devon, Antoine, and Ramona; her nieces and nephews, Catrisha, Latasha, Crystal, Angela, Darnell, Dwight, Lamont, and Arkeeya; also great-grandchildren, plus a host of family, friends, and loved ones.