Sunday August 25th, 2019
Today I take a break from my family history to honor a member of my family from the present who passed on to the next realm a few days ago.
It is rare that one person can touch so many lives in such a positive way.
My cousin Diane was one of those people.
We understand death only after it has placed its hands on someone we love.
And when death has placed its hands on those that we love, it gives us solace to remember them and their life.
Today I remember my friend and my cousin.....
On Monday August 19th, 2019 Heaven received another Angel.
My dear cousin Diane left us to be with the Lord after a long & brave battle with Melanoma.
She lived her life to the fullest and her utter and sheer strength with all things showed in all that she said and did.
In the sixty one years that Diane Repinski Pilcher lived on this earth, she touched the lives of many people and I will say that everyone will agree when I say that I can not think of ever knowing a more strong willed and resilient woman than her.
Her bravery and her positive spirit will be forever remembered by all of us who knew her.
Part of who she was will live on through her daughters and her grandchildren as well.
My heart goes out to her daughters Becky and Rachel and her grandchildren.
Diane was not only the daughter of my dad's brother (my Uncle Jim) and the 1st born granddaughter of my grandparents, but she was also a very special friend.
I mourn her loss more than any words can say.
My Cousins in Heaven
Diane is the fourth cousin mine that has passed away in the family line that I descend from via my father, Maurice Repinski and his parents, Clarence and Evelyn Repinski.
Clarence and Evelyn had 10 children and those 10 children had 32 children.
It is so very heartbreaking when family passes away but even more so when they are so young and die in what most people would say "before their time".
Before Diane, there were three other 1st cousins that passed on:
*Richard John (Rick) Woyak- Degaro, the son of my Aunt Mary Jo Repinski Degaro, passed away on Nov. 28, 2006.
*Lynn Marie Repinski Swanson, the son of my uncle Charles & Evelyn Repinski, passed away on April 1, 2014.
*Kenneth James Repinski, the son of my Uncle James and Margie Repinski, passed away on
June 13th 2017.
There was also my 1st cousin once removed, Carla Groleau, the daughter of my 1st cousin Connie Degaro Degnitz, who passed away in 2000.
There was also my 1st cousin by marriage, my 1st cousin Laura Degaro Hurias Thom's first husband, Bob Hurias, who passed away in 2003.
Some of my "Memories" of Diane
Cousins are forever friends who's hearts are bound together by the love of family. They know the same family secrets and tell the same family jokes. Sometimes they even share the same name, the same smile, the same freckles, the same laugh. They love to get together at holiday times or any time..... for when everyone else gets together to catch up, cousins get together to "build up" a store of happy memories that last a life time.
I had the luck of being born into a very large extended family with thirty one 1st cousins on my father's side of my family.
Diane was one of those thirty one cousins.
My memories of her go back to the time of my youth and there are so many of them. Most have been "clouded by time" but being that her family lived close to mine when I was a child, memories of her stick out in my mind.
Diane was the oldest of the five children of my Uncle Jim and Aunt Marge. The other siblings being Ken, Tommy, Alan and Dale.
Diane was the oldest of the five children of my Uncle Jim and Aunt Marge. The other siblings being Ken, Tommy, Alan and Dale.
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| The Jim Repinski Family:(left to right) Tommy, Ken, Uncle Jim, Diane, Dale, Alan |
Our families would visit one another often in those days as they lived just a few miles outside of Wisconsin Rapids on Highway 54 towards Plover.
Weekends spent enjoying car races at Golden Sands Speedway which was just a few miles from their house and big family dinners with all of my siblings and all of hers along with Uncle Jim and Aunt Marge.
A few years later, Diane and her family moved to Eau Clair Wisconsin. Visits were fewer after their move north but we still saw each other at least a few times a year when dad would load us up into the station wagon and we would make our way up there for weekend visits.
As we grew older, we grew apart and usually only saw each other during weddings or funerals and of course at our Dulek and then Repinski family reunions and during those visits there were always the memories of past visits to reflect upon and talk about and how all of us were doing in our current lives.
One of the things Diane said to me when I last saw her at one of our "Repinski" family reunions in 2017 was.... "I have no regrets in life other than my health....but thinking of my family helps me get through all of this...we can't go back in life, only forward" and then added that "I am so glad I was able to see you today! I haven't talked like this in person with anyone in a long time."
Reconnecting and Getting to Know My Cousin
I remember all of our late night chats and last night I spent a few hours re-reading our many conversations we had with each other on Facebook and Messenger.
We became online "pen pals" shortly after she was released
from the hospital after her initial surgery in January of 2013.
The night of our first conversation on the 19th of Jan in 2013 was when she told me that...
"It's been a lazy week, my daughter and granddaughter are sick with the flu so not much company.
I go to see the cancer docs on Monday to find out when treatment will start" and then she added that "even though my neck and face are swelled up a lot, especially when I wake up in the morning, I'm getting back to it. Hope to go back to work like on the 31st, see the surgeon on the 28th and he needs to sign papers before I can go back.
She also said that "I have gotten lots of cards and emails from lots of relatives the last couple of weeks which has been nice, including your dad and Bea." and then added that "my daughter said that when I am done with my treatment we gotta find a spa to go to for a couple days too.!"
Her candor and the way she talked was so refreshing and open and she told it like it was.
During one of our conversations she said "Ya with health things you can't go back and have a "re do".... might as well have fun and do stuff while you can" and then added "I got anti-anxiety drugs as soon as I found out about the cancer...they help me a lot, otherwise I would probably be sitting here crying all day." We then agreed that a "good cry" feels good sometimes.
I found I could talk about almost anything (actually everything under the sun) with her, from our recollections of visiting our grandparents on their farm when we were kids to our personal relationships with our significant others to how proud she was of her children and grandchildren to how she felt relief at convincing her mom (my aunt Marge) to go into assisted living to her fears of her health and the chemo and all the treatments that she was going through.
We also talked about our deepest and darkest secrets and how we promised each other that we would never divulge those things with another soul.
During one chat in late January of 2013 she reminded me that my moving to Dallas and posting pictures of my tour of the ranch that was made famous in the TV show 'Dallas" reminded her that she had a large paperback book with lots of pictures of the Southfork ranch and the characters of the show and that someday she hoped to visit me down there and see the place herself.
She then mentioned that she had seem the radiation doctor that day and that he treatment would be starting in the next week and hopefully at the end of the week she would probably go back to work. She said "They figure I will be pretty goof got 3 weeks and can work but then have to take the last 2 weeks off of radiation and that they had to confer on if they can just start the chemo then and get it over faster" and added "if I am going to be laid up those two weeks, might as well be a bit sicker." She then ended with "I visited my work today, they miss me bad and were all glad to see me and I got my hair cut so I feel a bit better."
On one occasion when we were chatting I was about to turn a year older the next day and as she was wishing me an early happy birthday she mentioned that her oldest granddaughter had just turned 14 that day (This was Feb 11th, 2013) and how proud she was of her and what a beautiful young lady she was becoming.
On another occasion she noticed that I had "friended" Kenneth Repinski on Facebook and she reminded me that he was also my cousin, her being the oldest child and he being the next oldest.....
In the past few years, she had been one of my biggest fans of my "family history research" and often commented how neat it was to learn of all of our ancestors from my stories.
She told me that I should write a book someday about all of my discoveries.
I shall write that book one day and when I do, it will be dedicated to my beautiful cousin, Diane.
In the last 6 plus years I have had the wonderful pleasure of getting to know one of my cousins almost as well as I know my brothers and sisters.
I shall miss you deeply.
How lucky we all were to have someone that makes saying goodbye so hard.
May the wind be at your sails as you journey to your much deserved place of rest with no pain and many loved ones to spend eternity with.
Your Cousin,
John Repinski
Diane's Obituary
Diane M. Pichler
Monday, August 19, 2019
Diane Pichler, age 61, passed away on Monday, August 19, 2019, after a long courageous battle with Melanoma. She was surrounded by her children and her beloved dogs.
Diane was born July 25, 1958, in Stevens Point, WI, the oldest of five children to James Repinski, and Marjorie (Soik) Repinski.
She attended SPASH for a period of time but moved to Eau Claire and graduated from Memorial High in 1976. Upon graduation Diane took a couple typing classes, but almost immediately after graduating started her almost 40-year career at Sacred Heart Hospital in the health information department. Diane will be remembered for her amazing work ethic and attention to detail. Diane also worked several seasonal jobs to keep her busy, she liked being out around people.
Our Mom spent time with her dogs, going to wine parties, kayaking, and most of all loved making her grandkids smile. She absolutely loved traveling and was able to do some in the last few years to California, Las Vegas, and to visit some of her beloved Aunts. Her sense of humor would always keep us on our toes, she would try and keep things light when they got tough.
Her favorite thing to say as of lately was "I'm not done yet", and she lived that up until the very end. She had things to do, and never focused on the bad, she inspired many around her with her strength and determination to live each day to the fullest.
Diane is survived by her two daughters, Becky (Damian) Nordstrom of Strum, and Rachel Meyers of Eau Claire; six grandchildren, Tori Maas, Elizabeth Nordstrom, Austin Hemmingson, Alyssa Hemmingson, Logan Nordstrom, and Caleb Newcomb. Also by her parents, James (Rosie) Repinski of Neillsville, and Marjorie Repinski of Eau Claire; brothers, Tom (Julie) Repinski of Menomonie, Al Repinski of Rock Falls, and Dale Repinski of Eau Claire.
Diane is also survived by very special aunts, uncles, and nieces and nephews, along with many great friends.
Diane was preceded in death by her brother, Ken Repinski; and her maternal and paternal grandparents.
Memorial Services will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2019, at Chippewa Valley Cremation Services—Celebration of Life Center, 1717 Devney Drive, Altoona (next to Charter Spectrum). Chaplin David Lato will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m. at the Celebration of Life Center.
Visitation
2-5 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2019, at Chippewa Valley Cremation Services—Celebration of Life Center, 1717 Devney Drive, Altoona (next to Charter Spectrum).
Service
5 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 2019, at Chippewa Valley Cremation Services—Celebration of Life Center, 1717 Devney Drive, Altoona (next to Charter Spectrum).
"Rest in Peace Diane"
Sources and Further Reading:
https://www.leadertelegram.com/obituaries/diane-pichler/article_eb187f9e-ead9-5b0d-8d1d-b176593a0da3.html
https://www.pisarskifuneralhome.com/obituary/75951
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kenoshanews/obituary.aspx?n=lynne-repinski-swanson&pid=170474226&fhid=12107
http://funeralinnovations.com/obituary/32997/Robert-Huiras/
https://www.pisarskifuneralhome.com/obituary/75951
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