PEKIN ~ Diane Lynn Spialek, 61, of Pekin, passed away at 5:35 p.m. Thursday, July 15, 2010 at the Foster G. McGaw Hospital at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

She was born May 12, 1949 in Pekin to Arthur and J. Berniece (Chitwood) Eitenmiller.  Diane found her soul mate and best friend in Larry Spialek.  They began their 41 year marriage on July 13, 1969 in Pekin.  He survives.

Also surviving are her mother of Pekin; two daughters, Beth (Brian) Smith of Pekin and Christine (John) Benson of Cabot, Arkansas; one son, Matt Spialek of Normal; five grandchildren, Emma Smith, Ethan Smith, Noah Benson, Caleb Benson, and Isabella Diane Benson; two brothers, Duane (Cathy) Eitenmiller of Texas and Dave Eitenmiller of Pekin; and one sister, Sandy Coffey of Pekin.

Her father preceded her in death.

Diane spent 25 years as the computer lab scheduler and supervisor at Pekin Community High School, retiring in May 2006.

However, her primary occupation was a loving wife and mother who selflessly placed the needs of her family before her own.  For Diane, this pure gesture was more powerful than any paycheck.  When paychecks did come in, they never went to her, but instead, were set aside for her childrens college education.  Ensuring her children had more opportunities than she had was, in her mind, the greatest investment she could make.

While Diane would proudly claim Larry, Beth, Chrissy, Matt and her grandchildren as the light of her life, they too, would say she was their light whose warmth has and will continue to enrich their lives beyond her time on Earth.

She was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.

Her funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.  Father Timothy Nolan will officiate.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, with a Christian Wake service at 3:30 p.m.  Burial will be in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Pekin.
Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.