Diane S. Kolar

Diane Kolar, was born on June 26, 1929 to Sylvia nee Vondrasek and Clarence Petri. She was married to LeRoy Kolar on May 12, 1951. Her parents and husband were there to greet her as she entered eternal life on December 6, 2015.

Diane was the youngest of 8 girl cousins on her mom’s side, Arlette, Naida, Gwen, Edna, Leona, Janet, and Marian, and one of only two girl cousins on her dad’s side. Irene and Diane always treated each other like sisters.

As a tween, she was a member of the Massasoit Indians softball team. She became lifelong friends with three of her teammates, Rita, Jackie and Isabelle, the start of her “chosen” family members.

She graduated Kelly High school in Chicago. She met LeRoy Kolar after high school, where they both worked for the same company. He kept coming into the office for whatever reason he could come up with, just to see her.

They were married at Gloria Dei Lutheran church in Chicago. She was the church’s organist for a time. They soon settled into their first home on 58th and New England in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood. There they met Eva and Stanley Jakubowski, along with the children, George, Barb and Frank, whom were also welcomed into their family.

Lee and Diane’s daughter Laura came into the scene 8 years later. The family moved to Palos Heights in 1965. Diane was the typical mom of the time. She was a room mom, field trip chaperon and girl scout helper. Another couple, Jim and Marie Rizzo,along with their children Sheri Tina, and Jimmy, the next door neighbors were soon, welcomed into “the family”. She returned to the workforce when Laura was in high school and worked at Griffith Laboratories, as an executive secretary for 20 years.

The “chosen” family exploded in 1983 when the DelGrosso clan joined, when Laura and Tony married. Becoming a grandmother was her greatest joy. Spoiling Sean and Christina was her calling in life! Moving closer to “the kids” is what brought them to Gurnee.

The entire crew began attending Joy! Lutheran Church. Soon more chairs were needed at the dining room table, when Jeff, Kris, Ryan and Megan Cassidy, received their mandatory invitations to all major holiday events, and even attended Marriott musicals with them.

Lee and Di enjoyed traveling with many trips: Hawaii, Disney World, Yellowstone, California, New York, Arizona, Florida, Texas, trips to the Casino, golfing everywhere. They were often accompanied by LeRoy’s brother and sister-in-law, Rolly and Florence, Jackie and Bob Tumasonis, along with Jack and Joanne Meyer. Diane and Lee loved flowers, birds and never met a dog the didn’t love, especially Brandy, Sandy, Trysta, Mimi, Romeo and Pelos.

They were thrilled when Sean introduced Heather Havlicek as his future bride. They quickly inducted Suzanne, Laddy and Tevarri into the Kolar Clan. Diane was a stunning Grandmother of the groom at the wedding ceremony.

After LeRoy’s death, the final “family expansion” occurred when Maria Jones and her son Hunter, “the little guy” became a daily fixture. Maria loving care extended Diane’s quality of life, and the family will always be grateful for her.