Diane Gilmer

Diane Irene Gilmer, age 63, passed away on September 8th, 2021.  She was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer on July 28th and was receiving chemotherapy treatments.  She was ready to fight, but lost her battle way too soon. Larry and Diane were married for 42 years.  

Diane was born on May 1, 1958, in Chicago, IL.  She grew up in a loving home with her father, Witt Kirby, and mother, Irene Kirby.  There was much love and excitement in their home as her and her siblings (Anita, Bud, and Bill) kept things around the house busy with various adventures and a multitude of visitors and friends, family, and foster siblings.  At age 19, Diane met Larry, and a whole new adventure began.  They married on April 21, 1979 in Chicago and were whisked off to Hawaii for their honeymoon, where they fell in love with the beauty of the islands.  On August 10, 1980 their daughter Jessica was born.  Shortly after, they moved from Chicago into their first home in Northlake, where they raised their family and have lived ever since.  On June 29, 1987, they welcomed their son, Phillip. Diane was a loving and supportive mother and wife.  She encouraged her kids to try for things that they wanted, like to play an instrument in the school band or try out for a sport.  She was even happy to care for her kids' friends as though they were her own, inviting them for dinner, going to their activities, and welcoming them on vacation.  

Diane was known for her love of the water.  One of her favorite places to visit was Missouri, which until recently she was visiting yearly with family. There were many years of road trips with extended family and days spent on the boat or floating in the water.  Her other favorite place to visit was Hawaii.  It didn't matter what she was doing there, she loved being on the beach and everything the islands embodied.  She loved swimming, snorkeling, and seeing the sea turtles.  

She was a dedicated worker, someone who was proud of how few sick days she took and how reliable of an employee she was. Over the years, she met many friends through her time spent at Grainer, Unisource and, recently, Novaspect.   

Visitation will be Friday, September 10, 2021 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Northlake Funeral Home. 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.