Diana Marshall Obituary

Diana Marie Marshall

Born: June 2, 1925; in Brooklyn, NY

Died: November 28, 2017; in Western Springs, IL

Diana Marie Marshall was born on June 2, 1925 in Brooklyn, NY and returned peacefully to eternal life after 92-1/2 years surrounded by her family on November 28, 2017 at her home in Western Springs, IL where she lived for 55 years.

Diana was a devoted wife to her (now deceased) husband, Mike, of 60 years, and mother to two sons, Roland (Julie) and Damian (Debbie) as well as five grandchildren, Michael, Jane, Mary, Riley and Trinity. Her father and mother, Hercules and Mary Ruffolo preceded her in death. Though an only child, she had thirty-three first cousins that were all like brothers and sisters. Diana graduated from the College of New Rochelle, in New Rochelle, NY. Upon graduating from New Rochelle, she started teaching grade school at the school she attended, Our Lady of Lourdes in Brooklyn, and began work on a graduate degree in English Literature at St. John's University. After graduating, she planned to teach high school, but took a job at the Angel Guardian Home as a social worker with children, and loved that job so much she stayed for four years. It was at that time she met her future husband, Mike Marshall. Urban folklore has it that they met in a drugstore in Purdys after Sunday Mass, when she dropped her copy of the NY Times (on purpose?) and he tipped his hat and graciously picked it up. She used to laugh and say "Gentlemen wore hats in those days". They were married in October 1954 and after living in White Plains, NY they moved to Western Springs in 1962.

They immediately joined the newly formed St. John of the Cross Parish and made many lifelong friends. Diana spent countless hours volunteering there on many committees, as well as over 30 years volunteering at the LaGrange Hospital. She was on the Board of the Thomas Ford Memorial Library for many years, participated in AAUW and honored with a gift in her name to the Judith Resnick Fellowship. She was in the Questors Group, Embroidery Guild, the Red Hats, and was awarded the Ursula Laurus Citation from the College of New Rochelle for Distinguished Service.

Proud of her Italian heritage she visited there many times with friends and family over the years, including one memorable trip to see the Pope at the Vatican in the late 60s with the whole family, staying in the same hotel as Mayor Daley and Cardinal Cody. After her husband retired, later trips to all the cathedrals and Holy sites in Europe were highlights of her travels.

Mostly though, Diana just loved her family, big holiday gatherings at her house or The Flame, and loved spending time with her son's families, watching her grandkids play tennis or sing or dance, and especially loved visits by the grandkids and their dogs, big fluffy Savannah for many years and more recently little Oliver.

Visitation was held on Friday, December 1, 2017 from 3:00 until 8:00pm at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55th St., Countryside. Family & friends gathered on Saturday, December 2, at St. John of the Cross Church, 5005 So. Wolf Rd., Western Springs for a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:45am. Entombment followed at Christ the King Garden Mausoleum, Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.

Any donations that wish to be made can be sent to the College of New Rochelle in her honor. http://www.cnr.edu/ and go to the Give link on the top menu bar, or mail to CNR, 29 Castle Place, New Rochelle, New York 10805.

Service Information: (708) 352-6500 or please visit our website at www.hjfunerals.com