Dianne M. Lauterbach

Dianne M. Lauterbach, 74, of Homewood departed this life on Sunday, July 4, 2021, after a long illness. Dianne was born in Chicago on February 24, 1947, to the late Francis "Mel" and Lorraine Henrichs Ziska. She graduated from Tinley Park High School and earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from JMT/Northwestern University. She worked for many years as an obstetrics and NICU nurse in Chicago-area hospitals, then as a school nurse in the Homewood School District until her retirement.

On August 10, 1967, Dianne married Ted Lauterbach, who preceded her in death. She is survived by a daughter, Bethany (Gaylan) Cooper of St. Louis, MO, and a son, Todd Lauterbach, of Chicago, IL. Other survivors include four sisters, Cheryl (Dave) Fite of Frankfort, IL; Karen (Mark Pecor) Peacock and Denise (Mike) Zickus of Tinley Park, IL; and Mary Jo (Chuck) Rolfe of Bluffton, SC; one brother, Jim (Deb) Ziska, also of Bluffton; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and other dear friends and relatives.

Dianne volunteered and fostered for a number of animal rescue organizations in the Chicago area, and over the years she ended up adopting several dogs as a "foster failure." She also volunteered her time to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, helping individuals and families in need. She enjoyed singing in the church choirs for the old St. Joseph's in Chicago Heights and then Infant Jesus of Prague in Flossmoor, and she traveled with the IJP choir to perform in Europe.

Having spent her career as a healthcare worker, as her final gift to the profession, Dianne donated her body to the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine for use in medical education. She chose to be cremated and scattered in the Cornwall region of England, a place she and Ted had visited and fallen in love with.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 10, 2021, at St. Emeric Catholic Church in Country Club Hills, IL, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m., a funeral mass at 11 a.m., and a repast to follow. In lieu of floral tributes, Dianne's family asks that donations be made in her name to the Trio Animal Foundation (https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/trioanimalfoundati on), a charitable organization that assists shelters, rescues and individuals by paying the medical bills of homeless pets.