ANASTASIA “Ann” DIEHL

Date of Birth

July 13, 1935

Date of Death

March 11, 2022

Anastasia “Ann” Diehl, age 86, passed away quietly in the evening hours of Friday, March 11, 2022, and now claims the everlasting promise of her Savior.

She was born July 13, 1935 in Chicago, IL, to loving parents, Stanley and Tillie Stanczyk.

Ann grew up in Pilsen and attended local schools. The family moved to Wheaton as she started high school and graduated from Wheaton High School. It was the very next day that she began working at the DuPage County Courthouse as a secretary. Ann was one of the first one’s trained in Chicago on the “new” IBM computers.

Ann took over her sister’s place on a local bowling team but it was George Diehl was the one who was bowled over. Their relationship may have begun with a few starts and stops, but it didn’t take them long to find their way down the aisle on August 19, 1961 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Wheaton, complete with two receptions that took the festivities long into the night. Canada may have been their honeymoon location, but they began their new life together in a small house on the Diehl family farm on Francis Rd. in Elburn. On remodeled old stagecoach stop near Beith Rd. became their home while George and his brother Elmer tended to the fields of their shared farm.

Ann eventually left her secretary work in Wheaton behind to become a full-time farm wife until grief came to call. After George’s passing 1967, Ann took in sewing to make ends meet until she combined her steadfast faith and her iron clad work ethic while working at St. Gall Catholic Church. Chuck and Winnie Conley convinced her to begin working part-time for Conley Funeral Home on September of 1972, but Ann found a home at “Thumb Printing”, the inhouse printing company for the funeral home. Her kingdom was replete with the whirring and banging of the printing press, the smell of ink permeating the air and a look of determination that made sure everything was cut square and neat. She left the world of printing behind in 1992 when she moved to FLC in Sugar Grove. Retirement came a few years later in December of 2001. She returned to St. Gall to work in the office, began to take in sewing again, but focused all her love and attention on her grandchildren.

She was faithful member of St. Gall Catholic Church, received training to become EMT and volunteered at the gift shop at Delnor Hospital for many years.

Ann’s hands were never idle. In addition to her baking skills, which were second to none, she sewed clothes, including wedding and bridesmaid dresses, crocheted and knitted baby blankets. Everyone stopped to listen when she played the family piano, filling her home with its spirit. Ann had a sparkling sense of humor and was always willing to participate in various shenanigans. Her smile was easy and given as freely as her friendship. 

She is survived by two daughters: Nancy (Bret) Smith and Barbara (Steven) Murphy; three grandchildren: Brittany Grant, Parker Smith and Bradley Smith; one sister, Phyllis Runge; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a family of friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Stanley and Tillie Stanczyk; her husband George; one son Brian Diehl in infancy; two sisters: Loretta and Dorothy and one son-in-law, Marty Grant.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, March 18, 2022, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. Mass to celebrate her faith will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 19, 2022, at St. Gall Catholic Church, Elburn. Interment will follow at St. Gall Cemetery, Elburn.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s research at http://act.alz.org or to CRS, Catholic Relief Services, www.support.crs..org/donate. Memories and tributes may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you can find Ann’s full life story.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, March 18, 2022, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. Mass to celebrate her faith will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 19, 2022, at St. Gall Catholic Church, Elburn. Interment will follow at St. Gall Cemetery, Elburn.

2 thoughts on “ANASTASIA “Ann” DIEHL

  1. Nancy and Barb,
    Bob and I want to express our deepest sympathy to both of you during this difficult time. Your Mom was one of the sweetest persons anyone could meet. She was quiet in nature, but always had the biggest smile on her face. She will be sincerely missed. I am sorry that we will not be there with you for your Mom’s wake and funeral. I just had surgery three weeks ago. Because I have three blood clotting disorders, my doctor has recommended that I do not fly. I could be in danger of developing a DVT at this time. As you might know, we have permanently moved to AZ. Nancy, we are now living in the home where you visited us while Bret was working in AZ. We were so happy to see you here in AZ. We had a lot of fun going to Apache Junction with you. We also appreciated your expert decorating ideas that you gave us for our new home. Nancy, you’ll have to come back some time to see how we have implemented many of your suggestions. Even though we will not be there with you now, please know that we are sending our love and prayers. We will miss Aunt Ann, but we know that she is Home now. She lived her life well and is now enjoying eternal life in Heaven.

    With our deepest sympathy and our love,
    Cousin Cindy and Bob Strasser

  2. My sympathy and prayers to your family in the passing of your mother. She was a great lady. Friend Mary Lou Miller, Genoa, IL

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