Diane M. Bailey
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Published in August 2025
Diane M. Bailey (born July 12th, 1950), beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and friend, passed away at her home on Saturday morning, August 9th, at the age of 75. Near the end, despite her painful battle with ALS, Diane’s greatest concerns were not for herself, but rather for the well-being of her family and loved ones, which is true to how she lived life.
The third oldest of seven siblings, Diane grew up in Shorewood, Illinois, where, as a young child, she loved playing outside from sun-up to sundown with her brothers and sisters. Diane and her siblings made a good time out of anything they could find, playing in discarded boxes, rolling down hills, and ducking under a barbed-wire fence to venture over to a nearby farm. Upon graduating from Minooka High School in 1968, Diane started working right away, eventually starting a career at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, IL. There, Diane served as a technical secretary for a team of scientists, keeping excellent notes and skillfully translating their scientific jargon and, often, illegible notes.
This skill would stay with Diane even after she retired from Argonne to move to southern Illinois in 1995 with her husband Steve and daughter Stacy. Diane dove even further into being the family historian, always keeping up with the latest technology to preserve family memories. Whether it was lugging around a camcorder, encouraging the kids to smile for the camera, or making personalized cards for everyone she knew on their birthdays and anniversaries, Diane did her best to capture each moment, no matter how mundane, knowing all too well how quickly they can pass.
Later in her life, Diane loved caring daily for her grandkids while her daughter and son-in-law worked. Along with Steve, Diane helped raise their grandsons, even serving as their teacher during the Covid-19 pandemic. At different points throughout her life, Diane had dreams of becoming a writer, a painter, a photographer, and a musician, but none of these things ever took off as she hoped. Quoting Diane directly, “Caring for my grandchildren is the talent I want to be remembered most for!”
Indeed, Diane will be remembered for that talent and so much more. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Diane is survived by daughter, Stacy Johns and her husband, Dane; Stepdaughter, Kim Pondelicek and her husband, Jack; Stepson, Stephen R. Bailey, Jr.; Grandchildren: Ezra, Eli, Ewan, Jack, Faith, Dylan, Ann, and Rachel. Brother, Bill Castello and his wife, Sandy; Brother, Dave Castello and his wife, Judy; Sister, Pam Birkey and her husband, Don; Sister, Valerie Davis and her husband, John; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Diane was preceded in death by her parents, William and Loretta Castello; Sister, Judy Castello; Brother, Vincent Castello; and by her beloved husband of 28 years, Stephen R. Bailey.
Services will be held at Parker Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort on Saturday, August 16th. Visitation will be from 11am-1pm, with funeral services to follow. A brief graveside service will then be held at Tower Heights Cemetery. Donations in Diane’s memory can be made to CCALS (Compassionate Care ALS) at P.O. Box 1052 West Falmouth, MA. 02574 or at CCALS.ORG.