NEWTON FALLS, OH - Diane Kennedy, 60, passed away peacefully on Jan. 30, 2015 at home, with her loving family by her side, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Diane was born May 8, 1954, in Cleveland, Ohio, the oldest daughter of Elwood “Woody” Vincent Yeckley and Esther Richmond Yeckley.
Diane moved to Newton Falls, Ohio in 1970, where, on her 16th birthday, she met her high school sweetheart, David Kennedy.
She was a 1972 graduate of Newton Falls High School and was a member of National Honor Society.
After graduation, Diane attended cosmetology school and then on Oct. 5, 1974, she and David married.
She worked for Marge’s beauty shop and later for Sassy’s Hair and Nail Salon in Newton Falls. Diane’s passion and favorite hobby was quilting.
She won many ribbons for the quilts she made and enjoyed creating specialty quilts for family members.
Her biggest project was a quilt she made for “Relay for Life” with over 700 names on it, honoring cancer survivors and memorializing those who had passed.
She loved teaching others to sew and quilt and was a 4-H sewing advisor.
Diane also volunteered with the 4-H rabbit show every year at the Portage County fair.
Diane was a parishioner of St. Mary and St. Joseph Church, where she and her husband sang in the folk choir.
She treasured moments going out on the lake on the family pontoon boat where she would feed the seagulls and ducks and watch her grandchildren fish.
She would take the family dog for walks, and spent weekends horseback riding and camping with David and their friends.
Diane was a loving wife and mother with a caring heart.
She took great joy in spending time at family outings with her loved ones.
Memories of Diane will be carried on by her family who loved her dearly.
She is survived by her husband, David; her children, Valerie (Ryan) Short and Patrick (Hilary) Kennedy; grandchildren Delaney and Caden Short; her mother, Esther Yeckley Sammon; two sisters, Cathy (Robert) Lance and Cynthia (Jeff) Goff; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Diane was preceded in death by her father, Elwood “Woody” Yeckley.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Borowski Memorial Home in Newton Falls.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary and St. Joseph Parish in Newton Falls.
The family would like to give a special thanks to Hospice of the Valley for the care they provided to Diane.
In lieu of flowers, Diane’s family requests that donations be made in memory of Diane Kennedy to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market St., Youngstown, OH 44512.
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Trumbull