Diane Harriet Armgard, 88, passed away of natural causes on September 20, 2023.

She was born a trailblazer in Wyandotte, Mich. on March 5, 1935, the first of two children born to Herman ("Ham") and Harriet Armgard. She later attended Washington Elementary School, District 103 in Lyons, Ill. where she played the saxophone. She enjoyed sports from a young age and loved being included in the sandlot softball games with her younger brother, Ron and the other kids. She even fed him grounders to help him become better at shortstop. From 1950 to 1954, she attended J. Sterling Morton East High School (5,000 students) in Cicero, Ill., where she was in the National Honor Society, a proud alto on the school's Aoeleon Choir, and contributed to the Annual Staff Mortonian Yearbook.

She received a scholarship to attend Illinois State Normal University from 1954 to 1958. The second in her family to go to college, she received her Undergraduate degree in Elementary Education there and later continued studies at the University of Illinois. Perhaps her love of teaching was inherited from her father, an elementary school principal.

Daring Diane then answered an ad in the newspaper seeking teachers for US Military bases for the Air Force and Army after graduation. She was posted to teach in Tunisia and Germany. She travelled much throughout North Africa and Eastern Europe in her years there, acquiring a love of fine food, many unique local artifacts, and a special affection for Spain where she visited many times in the years that followed. Her family can only imagine the fun escapades she experienced with her friends. She was even able to visit with Ron, his wife and newborn daughter on a number of occasions, as they were then stationed with the Army in France.

After her adventures abroad, Diane returned to Lyons, Ill., where she secured a position at Home Elementary, serving the village of Forest View, District 103. Diane loved teaching and the children, and during her long tenure she taught all grades. At one point she was offered the principal position but declined because it would take her away from actual teaching. In 1994 she was honored with the Board of Education of Lyons Elementary School District No. 103 Award for 31 Years of Dedicated Service.

Diane cared for her parents in their final years. Upon her retirement, she moved to a lovely townhome in Westmont, Ill., which in true teacher-style she decorated for every holiday and for her neighbors' pleasure. She even had an apple-green painted office with a red apple border on the walls. She continued to travel, though continentally now. Her favorite annual trip became one to Door County, Wisc. with her friends. She also went on a family holiday trip to Rochester, Mich. to visit her niece and grandniece, to Hilton Head, S.C. to visit her brother and his wife, and on a wonderful, all-rail visit to Portland, Ore. to see her late cousin, Kathy.

Deeply devoted to her friends and family she blessed them throughout her life with her time, skills, common sense, style, sense of humor and fun. A weekly bowling team member much of her adult life, she was known for having a high score…and perfect nails. She never missed a birthday. She would show up at her nieces' birthday parties in the 1960's and '70's decked to the nines in a fitted dress, heels, Shalimar-scented with eyebrows the envy of every 2023 woman and then be the only adult playing softball with all the kids in the backyard. Her nieces looked forward to the escargot she'd make for holiday dinners. She coordinated monthly retired teachers' and friends' luncheons, attended annual retired teachers' parties, brought cookies and baked goods to her hair and nail professionals, met up with her local cousins (Jan and Chris), opened her home to visiting, out-of-town family, assisted in caring for her local grandnieces and grandnephews (always having a special place in her linen closet for their toys and activities) and golfed with her teacher group. She loved jokes, being "ribbed" and being the center of attention, yet she could also be a trusted confidante. She could organize an entire room of crazy, slightly inebriated, extended family members to sing all verses of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," complete with poster sized props. It became a favorite and affectionately remembered family event.

Diane was very much loved and true to herself always. She wore her heart on her sleeve, but pretended she did not. Her nieces appreciate witnessing her independence at a time when it was not the norm.

She is preceded in death by her Mother Harriet Lange Armgard and Father Herman Augustus Armgard and has joined them in heaven for a wonderful reunion. She is survived by her brother Ronald Armgard; nieces, Christine Stinson Fisher (Christopher), Sandy Hamilton (Bryan), Lesli Hoffman (Bruce), and her grandnieces and grandnephews; Taylor Stinson Chorazyczewski, Chase Hamilton, Trevor Hamilton, Dana Hoffman and Alyse Hoffman.

The family is extremely grateful to the staff at Beacon Hill Health Center in Lombard, Ill. who cared for Diane with such respect and compassion.

A funeral and burial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on October 9, 2023, at Oakridge-Glen Oak Cemetery in Hillside, Ill. Following the service, close friends and family are invited to Maggiano's in Oak Brook, Ill. to share pictures, stories and celebrate her wonderful life.

Info: 800-562-0082