Diane (Wayman) Sakolosky Obituary

July 31,1942 – January 17, 2025

Diane Ruth Sakolosky, 82, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025 in Houston, Texas after a courageous battle with cancer. Born July 31, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois she was one of three children born to Dorothy Emma Francke and Lowell Roger Wayman. She is predeceased by both parents, her twin brother, Don, and younger brother, Bob. Diane was twenty-three years old when she lost her mother. This early loss impacted her later life priorities, always placing family time and family activities as first priority.

She grew up in the Edgebrook area of Chicago and attended Carl Schurz High School. She actively attended Edgebrook Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and participated in church activities. She developed many lifelong friends from elementary school, church, and high school that she kept in touch with and traveled with over later years. She attended Bradley University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in 1963. She joined Chi Omega sorority and made many new friends while enjoying college life with her brother Don. She met her husband, Jack, at Bradley and they married in 1964. She went on to be a teacher working initially in a northwest Chicago suburban elementary school, and from there in Tucson, Arizona; Champaign, Illinois; and Houston, Texas. She always loved teaching elementary children in the classroom and helping them learn.

Diane was a "music" person. She sang with the Edgebrook Lutheran Church choir, the Schurz high school choir, her Bradley University sorority choir, and the Windwood Prebysterian Church choir in Houston. In Houston she was a season ticket holder with the Theater Under the Stars venue, and she especially loved to plan an event and attend the latest Broadway musical with family, grandchildren, and friends.

Diane was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother and more than anything cherished spending time with her family. While living in Champaign, she enjoyed regular visits to see relatives in Chicago for the holidays and birthdays. She also loved spending time with family and friends at their family lake house near Buchanan, Michigan. She enjoyed tubing, boating, "social hour" rides on the pontoon boat, and just hanging out at the lake house visiting while playing cards and board games. She also cherished her trips to California and Hawaii to visit her brother Bob and family.

In 1985, Diane and Jack moved to Houston where they settled and finished raising their family and developed another strong circle of friends. Diane continued to substitute teach and was most happy that all three of her children settled in the Houston area as well. As the family grew over time she was thrilled to have all five of her grandchildren nearby and centered her later years in life on developing relationships with them. She never missed an opportunity to spend time with them or take them out for a birthday dinner. From volunteering at their elementary schools, to athletic events, plays, dance competitions, and school award banquets she rarely missed an activity her grandchildren were involved in. She especially looked forward to making gingerbread houses, Christmas cookies and baking potica rolls with them during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Diane will always be remembered for her everlasting love and caring for her husband, family, and friends. She was a remarkable woman with a gift for forming lasting connections with others. Her warm and caring spirit left a lasting impact on those who knew her and her memory continues to inspire love and cherished memories. You didn't have to know Diane long before becoming friends with her. She had a personality that was engaging and respectful and always made others feel like she cared and valued their opinion. She had a knack for engaging in conversations with people of all ages that made them feel appreciated.

Diane is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Jack, and their three children, Linda, David (Judith), and Jeff (Jennifer). She had endless love for her five Grandchildren; Jake, Dylan, Erin, Ryan, and Grant.

There will be a gathering for a Celebration of Life Service for Diane at Lakewood Methodist Church, 11330 Louetta Road, Houston, TX, on Tuesday February 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Cancer Research Institute or the V Foundation. For guests who are unable to attend the church, the service can be live-streamed at the following link:

https://subsplash.com/u/lakewoodmethodistchurch/media/d/5h8rmwt-diane-sakolosky-celebration-of-life

 (Note - link will not be activated until 9:30 am on February 18, 2025)

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/diane-sakolosky-memorial?id=57441031