Diane F. Newman

Diane F. Newman, 74, of Machesney Park, IL went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 11, 2026. She was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), a form of Dementia in 2024 and was at Lincolnshire Place in Loves Park, IL. She passed peacefully. She was born on August 23, 1951, to Clarence and Mary Bader.

She graduated from Harlem High School, class of 1969, and worked as the Executive Secretary to the Harlem Superintendent and School Board recording Secretary right out of High school. She worked at Harlem for 9 years then worked at Ingersoll for 2 years as a traveling executive secretary, then became a stay at home mom, raising her children.

She married Randle Newman on June 24, 1972, at Lovejoy Covenant Church.

She attended Lovejoy Covenant Church, North Park Covenant Church and Forest Hills Free Church and worked in AWANA as a leader and Commander of the girls' club and AWANA Olympics coach for many years.

Diane loved cooking, baking cookies, sewing, ceramics, canning, gardening and maintained many different flower beds in her yard. She took pictures of everything. She also spent time with her kids and grandkids attending many of their school and never missing a sporting event. Diane enjoyed her 3 dogs Pepper, Molly and beloved Macy. She loved to travel to Florida on vacation.

Diane is survived by her husband Randy; children-son Bryan Newman, daughter Lindsay (Shane) Njos; grandchildren-Riley and Tyke Njos of Belvidere. Sister Sandra (Craig) Olsen, Brothers LeRoy (Rosemary) Bader, Clarence Bader Jr., Jerry (Joanne) Woods and Larry Woods all in the Rockford area and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.

Special thanks to all the nurses and staff during her stay at Lincolnshire Place, also thanks to Northern Illinois Hospice for all their assistance and help to us during the last days.

Private family service and burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 19 at Willwood Burial Park 7000 West State Street at Meridian Road in Rockford, IL with visitation beginning at 10:30 am.

In her memory and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Aphasia Association (NAA), aphasia.org. Condolences to advantagerockford.com.