For 27 years, a photographer turned a simple “parents waving goodbye” into a touching tribute to her mom and dad, Jerry and Pat Dikeman.
After each visit, she captured a photo of them standing side by side outside their home, waving goodbye.
These annual snapshots highlighted the enduring bond between a daughter and her parents.
While the seasons changed, the love and connection remained constant, creating a poignant reminder of unbreakable family ties.
In 1990, Deanna Dikeman’s parents moved from their childhood home in Sioux City, Iowa, to a red ranch house in the same town, The New Yorker noted.
Deanna, a photographer in her thirties, visited often to capture moments from their peaceful retirement.
Her father found joy in gardening, while her mother enjoyed cooking and preserving food from their garden.
Every Memorial Day, they continued filling their blue Buick with flowers to visit the local cemetery and pay respects to loved ones.
Like many suburban families, Deanna’s parents had a tradition of standing outside their home to wave goodbye after her visits.
In 1991, this familiar “parents waving goodbye” took on a deeper meaning. Feeling the passage of time, Dikeman decided to capture the moment with her camera.
The photograph showed her mother, dressed in bright pink and indigo, standing beside her father, who stood slightly behind her in the shade of a maple tree, both raising their arms in a synchronized wave.
This simple gesture became a cherished tradition, repeated with each visit for over 20 years.
Though her mother often teased, “Oh, Deanna, put that thing away,” both parents faithfully stepped outside, recognizing the value of preserving these heartfelt goodbyes.
Deanna’s photo series, “Leaving and Waving,” captures nearly 30 years of heartfelt family farewells in a blend of personal storytelling and artistic expression.
A portion of the series, “27 Good-byes,” was published in 2009. Each image highlights her parents’ unwavering tradition of waving goodbye—whether standing in the warm glow of the garage on rainy nights, laughing under sunny eaves, blowing kisses from the driveway, or braving the cold behind snowbanks.
The photos subtly reflect the passage of time. Some shots, framed inside Dikeman’s car, offer glimpses into her evolving life. Her hand, occasionally visible in side mirrors, loses its wedding band over the years.
Early photos include an aging family dog and her infant son. At the same time, later images show her grown son behind the wheel as she photographs her parents from the passenger seat.
This blend of personal and family moments adds emotional depth to the series, making it a powerful tribute to the bonds of family and the passage of time.
The passing of Deanna’s father in late 2009 brought his part in her parent’s farewell photo series to an emotional close.
His final photo, taken that August, shows him leaning on a quad cane, waving goodbye, with his wife standing beside him for support.
A few weeks later, her mother gently protested, saying, “No more pictures, Deanna,” but the tradition continued. Daenna photographed her mother, sometimes joined by other family members, until 2017, when her mother moved to a retirement home.
Even as age took its toll, her mother continued to wave for the camera. Later that year, she passed away peacefully in her sleep, marking the end of a profoundly moving family tradition that spanned decades.
Most photos in Deanna Dikeman’s “Leaving and Waving” series are spontaneous moments captured just before a car drives away.
However, the final image—an empty driveway—was different. After her mother’s funeral, Dikeman carefully set up a tripod on the street and took 50 frames. At the same time, her sister waited at a nearby Starbucks.
The tradition came full circle last spring when Deanna’s son left her home in Columbia, Missouri, to start his first job after college.
As his car idled in the driveway, he turned to her and asked, “Aren’t you going to take a picture?” Surprised, Deanna quickly grabbed her camera, stepping into her new role, capturing this meaningful family ritual.
Watch Deanna Dikeman share the heartfelt story of her parents’ farewell tradition in an interview with Inside Edition:
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