Rosanne Cheryl Diaz

Rosanne passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026 in her home surrounded by her collectibles, just as she always wished. Rosanne grew up in Bellwood, Illinois, and shared many stories about her childhood neighborhood. She was a dedicated mother, friend, and loving grandmother who refused to be called grandma. She talked very fondly of the military family in which she was raised; both her father and brother were veterans.

Rosanne was very cultured as she traveled throughout much of her life, sharing facts about the places she had been. She had the memory of an elephant which resonated in the stories she shared. One of her extraordinary talents was how she could sew anything by hand, from clothes to dolls and everything in between. She had a skill for turning nothing into something, and many friends cherished the handmade gifts they received from her. She had a diverse taste in music and was quick to name the title and artist of songs within seconds of hearing them. Some of the things she looked forward to were outings with her close friends of many years, which included going to garage sales, running errands at her favorite stores, getting together for breakfast or lunch, going to autumn drive, or attending Stone Soup every Tuesday. She had a major sweet tooth and would jokingly ask if there was going to be cake when we invited her out. Her Catholic faith was a major part of who she was as a person. She read her Bible daily and attended Mass when able. Anyone that knew her knew her love for teddy bears ran deep, and she filled her home with them, each with its own name and story.

For the last 38 years, Rosanne resided in Marengo, a place where she enjoyed the small town feel. She was big on supporting small businesses; her favorite places used to be Wisted's, Ben Franklin, and Brandt's Pharmacy. She enjoyed volunteering her time at the local Presbyterian Thrift store each week, building strong rapport with the other volunteers and customers that came in. She loved her job at the Marengo Emporium, in which her eye for detail made her great at creating engaging displays for customers to shop.

If you knew her, you probably have a funny story or anecdote to remember her by. Rosanne made an impression on everyone she met. Her caring nature touched many, as she always put others' needs before her own. She will always be known as "the lady who was always walking" and probably strolled her way to heaven's gates, being greeted by her parents, brother, dogs and friends. She was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed by all.

Rosanne is survived by her daughters April (William) Javurek and Starr M. (Aaron) Walker; and her grandkids Isaac, Hastin, Eleanor, Willoughby, and Dusty. Rosanne was predeceased by her dad Raymond, mom Rose, and brother Ray.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 29, from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at Marengo-Union Funeral Home, 505 E. Grant Highway, Marengo, Illinois. A graveside service will follow on Friday, January 30, at 1:00PM at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery, 17W201 Roosevelt Road, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stone Soup in Rosanne's honor.