Diane McDonnell Lapelle
June 22, 1952 – February 16, 2021
Mary Diane Lapelle (nee McDonnell) was brought Home by God on February 16, 2021. She was the loving, and deeply devoted wife of William J. Lapelle, with whom she celebrated 44 and ½ years of a very happy marriage.
Diane was born June 22, 1952, the first of seven children of George and Lee McDonnell, both of whom preceded her Home. She was born in Little Company of Mary Hospital, on Chicago’s South Side, where her family lived in St. Linus Parish. Her father was a rising insurance executive, which took the family to Reading, PA when Diane was ten years old. Diane graduated elementary education there, from Sacred Heart School. In her childhood, Diane was an avid reader and a natural artist, whose beautiful sketches often included animals, nature and the gentler things in life.
Diane returned to Chicago with her family in 1967. She graduated from Regina Dominican High School, Wilmette in 1970. In her late teens, Diane was diagnosed with four auto-immune diseases that would challenge her health for the rest of her life. She excelled at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. In her sophomore year, the University of Notre Dame began accepting women applicants. Diane applied, was accepted, and became one of the first women ever to graduate from the University of Notre Dame, in 1974. Diane majored in the General Program of Liberal Studies (GP). There, she met the love of her life, Bill Lapelle. They were married on June 19, 1976.
Diane started her long banking career at Continental Illinois Bank and rose in the world of finance to become a Managing Director at Bank of America until she had to retire due to health reasons. Diane continued to be grateful for the many relationships she kept from her years as a banking executive.
After leaving Bank of America, Diane became very involved in assisting with finances and fund raising for the Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan, Illinois. She was a long-time member of the Finance Committee at St. Patrick’s Parish in Lake Forest, Illinois, where she and her husband Bill were long-time parishioners.
Throughout her life, Diane truly enjoyed the hobby of photography. At family events, it was common for people to say her photos rivaled those of any professional photographer.
Diane’s father, George died of a heart attack six weeks before her wedding. George had been Chairman of the St. Joseph Hospital Board of Advisors, and Diane’s mother, Lee, continued working there for 25 years as a public relations executive, in support of the Daughters of Charity who ran the hospital. Early in their marriage, Diane and Bill became members of the Associates, young executives who supported the hospital, and the friendships made from this network were also among the many Diane was very grateful for throughout her life.
Diane and Bill were incredibly close and devoted to Diane’s mother, Lee, during her forty-one years as a widow, until her death in 2017. Diane also was incredibly generous to, and very genuine in her concern for her 50+ family members, and anyone she ever spoke with. Her friends are many, from every chapter of her life.
Diane’s family is very grateful to God for her gentle spirit, her devotion to family and her always smiling, loving presence in their lives.
Diane’s family requests that memorial donations in her name be made to: St Joseph Services, at stjosephservices.org; 773-278-0484.
For additional information, contact Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest, IL, wenbanfh.com, 847-234-0022 or wenbanfh.com.
February 24, 2021 – 1:00pm cst
The live stream will begin about 10 minutes before the service starts. Please press the play button in the player above. You will see a screen stating that the live stream will begin shortly along with some soft music to make sure your speakers are working properly. Once the stream has ended, the video will be available to view once it has been uploaded.