DARLINGTON - Diana M. VanMatre, age 64 of Darlington, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County surrounded by the love of her family members. She was born on June 26, 1946 at St. Clair Hospital in Monroe, WI to LaVerne "Pug" and Agnes (Hendrickson) Kendall. She attended Holy Rosary School. Diana married James "Jim" Smith on February 27, 1962, and they were married for 18 years. Diana attended a nursing school through the Mercy Hospital in Oshkosh, WI to become a medical assistant and worked for Mercy Hospital from 1963 - 1965. In 1965, she moved back to Darlington and worked at Lafayette County Manor from 1966 - 1969 as a nursing assistant. She moved to Monroe in 1969 and worked at St. Clair Hospital from 1969 - 1974 as a nursing assistant. She also worked for Pleasant View Nursing Home in Monroe from 1974 - 1981. She moved back to Darlington in 1981 and worked numerous jobs in the Darlington area. Diana married John VanMatre on November 26, 1988, and they currently reside in Darlington.
Diana was a member of the Lafayette County Shamrock Club and was named the Irish Rose in 1995. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and of its Council of Catholic Women.
What Diana enjoyed the most was the Harley rides with her loving husband, John, family time with her kids and grandkids, baking with her grandkids, and most of all her love for all of her friends in her life and her special dog, Buttercup.
Diana will be dearly missed by her husband, John; her two daughters: Sheri Wilbanks (Don Stadel) of Elizabeth, Illinois, and Sheila Hinderman (special friend, Mike) of Darlington; 9 grandchildren: Luke Gille (Misty) of Springtown, Texas, Josh Gille (Ryann) of Ft. Worth, Texas, April Snyder of Nocona, Texas, Sterling Wilbanks of Elizabeth, Illinois, Jesse Dean (Kristy Michelsen) of 29 Palms, California, Nikki Schoen (Travis) of Darlington, Dustin Dean (Ashley) of Darlington, Hailey and Hayden Hinderman of Darlington; 2 step-grandchildren: Coy Wilbanks of Nocona, Texas and Deeon Wilbanks of Nocona, Texas; 5 great-grandchildren: Samantha, Dylan, & Caryson Gille and Derek & Wyatt Beverage; 5 step-great-grandchildren: Brook Banda, Tyler, Braden, Kaleb, and Dwayne Wilbanks; her sister, Debra (Steve) Arnsmeier of Monroe; many nieces, nephews, many other relatives, and a great number of friends.
Diana was preceded in death by her father (2000), her mother (2005), her daughter, Lori Ann Dean (2006), and her son-in-law Russell D. Gille (2007).
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 104 E. Harriet Street, Darlington, WI, with Fr. Randy Budnar officiating. Pastor Luke Gille will be also speaking of behalf of the family. Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, October 1, 2010 at STEIL CAMACHO FUNERAL HOME, 206 E. Harriet Street, Darlington, WI.
The family would like to thank Southwest Health Center Hospice, Family Health of Lafayette County, Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County and everyone who stopped in at the house, and everyone who supported Diana and her family in thoughts and in prayers.
www.darlingtonfuneralhome.com
Diana was a member of the Lafayette County Shamrock Club and was named the Irish Rose in 1995. She was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and of its Council of Catholic Women.
What Diana enjoyed the most was the Harley rides with her loving husband, John, family time with her kids and grandkids, baking with her grandkids, and most of all her love for all of her friends in her life and her special dog, Buttercup.
Diana will be dearly missed by her husband, John; her two daughters: Sheri Wilbanks (Don Stadel) of Elizabeth, Illinois, and Sheila Hinderman (special friend, Mike) of Darlington; 9 grandchildren: Luke Gille (Misty) of Springtown, Texas, Josh Gille (Ryann) of Ft. Worth, Texas, April Snyder of Nocona, Texas, Sterling Wilbanks of Elizabeth, Illinois, Jesse Dean (Kristy Michelsen) of 29 Palms, California, Nikki Schoen (Travis) of Darlington, Dustin Dean (Ashley) of Darlington, Hailey and Hayden Hinderman of Darlington; 2 step-grandchildren: Coy Wilbanks of Nocona, Texas and Deeon Wilbanks of Nocona, Texas; 5 great-grandchildren: Samantha, Dylan, & Caryson Gille and Derek & Wyatt Beverage; 5 step-great-grandchildren: Brook Banda, Tyler, Braden, Kaleb, and Dwayne Wilbanks; her sister, Debra (Steve) Arnsmeier of Monroe; many nieces, nephews, many other relatives, and a great number of friends.
Diana was preceded in death by her father (2000), her mother (2005), her daughter, Lori Ann Dean (2006), and her son-in-law Russell D. Gille (2007).
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 104 E. Harriet Street, Darlington, WI, with Fr. Randy Budnar officiating. Pastor Luke Gille will be also speaking of behalf of the family. Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 pm on Friday, October 1, 2010 at STEIL CAMACHO FUNERAL HOME, 206 E. Harriet Street, Darlington, WI.
The family would like to thank Southwest Health Center Hospice, Family Health of Lafayette County, Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County and everyone who stopped in at the house, and everyone who supported Diana and her family in thoughts and in prayers.
www.darlingtonfuneralhome.com