Diane McCoy

She was born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 22, 1942, to Joseph and Hope Hayeks (Eastlund). She attended Notre Dame High School and graduated from what would eventually become the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she studied to be an educator. Diane enjoyed a successful career as a teacher in Nebraska, California and Illinois. Beloved by her many students and fellow colleagues, she taught at Lieb Elementary School in Bridgeview, Illinois, and received “Teacher of the Year” honors while teaching language arts at Simmons Junior High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She cherished her students, who reciprocated the sentiment by painting and dedicating a wall mural in her honor at Simmons Junior High School. Recognized as an exemplary writing instructor, Diane taught a class instructing other educators how to teach students to write effective and compelling prose.

Diane met the love of her life, Graham McCoy, whose romantic and dogged pursuit of Diane from Nebraska to California and back to Nebraska foreshadowed the commitment and loving devotion he would bestow upon her throughout her extraordinary life. Excited to begin their new life together, the two were married on July 16, 1966, in Omaha, Nebraska, and shortly thereafter moved to Chicago, Illinois, where Graham began a career with the Continental Can Company while Diane continued her teaching career. Years later, Diane would humorously and mischievously recount that she and Graham began their married life with $300, with Graham’s initial contribution totaling $5.

Diane and Graham were eager to start a family of their own. Their only child, Joseph, was born in 1971 after the couple moved to Oak Lawn, Illinois. Desiring but unable to have additional children, Diane lavished considerable love and affection on her son and the two shared a special bond throughout her life.

A disease and subsequent disability forced Diane into an early retirement from classroom instruction in 1985. In 1989, she and Graham moved to Clearwater Lake, Wisconsin, where they launched a residential construction business and Diane began a second career as the office manager and bookkeeper. As with all her endeavors, she excelled in this role and the business proved successful. After eventually selling the business, Diane and Graham retired to the Omaha area for several years before eventually moving to Chatham, Illinois, to be near their son.

Diane had a special place in her heart for her dogs and enjoyed the company of several faithful and furry companions throughout her life. In her later years, Diane and Graham welcomed older rescue dogs into their home and accepted them as valued members of the family. Her loyal and most recent housemates, Charlie and Gabby, will miss Diane immensely.

She loved her immediate and extended family and, in particular, enjoyed very close and loving relationships with her four siblings, Susan (Richard) Belanger, Kathryn (Larry) White, JoAnn (Jeff) Tebbetts and Fred (Kris) Hayeks (deceased). She leaves one grandchild, Michael (Michaela) Page, who serves as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and resides in New York State. In her last year of life, Diane was joyous about welcoming her son’s fiancé, Dr. Claudine Gillison along with her daughters, Isabelle and Evie, into the family.

Diane was passionately devoted to her Christian faith. She was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and an enthusiastic student of the Bible. She loved a good discussion about theological matters and biblical history. Her final church home was St. Mary’s Anglican Mission in Chatham, Illinois.

Her hobbies included reading good fiction and she could often be found at the kitchen table solving what seemed to be endless amounts of crossword, sudoku and logic puzzles while dispensing the kind of practical, useful and no-nonsense advice one might expect from a life-long Midwesterner.

Many people who knew Diane would attest that she had a remarkable gift of inspiring other people through her uplifting demeanor, fortitude, humor and optimism. People were drawn to Diane. She was often bemused that perfect strangers would share their problems and struggles with her. Those who knew her best were not surprised at all.

She often had a difficult time with multiple health issues, occasional and severe pain and limited mobility as a double leg amputee. Through it all, or in spite of it, she remained positive and refused to succumb to anger, bitterness or despair. She lived with humor and grace, ministered to others, dispensed valuable life advice, loved and cared for her family and many friends and kept the faith. She will be missed.

Diane is survived in death by her husband, Graham McCoy and son, Joseph McCoy.

Family and friends are welcome to join us in a celebration of her remarkable life.

Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Butler Funeral Home-Chatham, 8855 IL Route 4, Chatham. Visitation will begin with a prayer service.

Funeral Ceremony: 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Butler Funeral Home-Chatham with Fr. Tom Swegle officiating.

Cremation will be provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center following ceremonies.

Graveside Ceremony: 10:00 a.m. on Friday March 22, 2024, at Camp Butler National Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Here’s Life Africa or Friends of Sangamon County Animal Control.