Dianne Schaefer

SCHAEFER, Dianne Marie (Angel) 

Dianne Schaefer was born in Seattle, WA on June 1, 1943.  Her family moved to Spokane when she was five years old.  She attended Whitworth Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, and John R. Rogers High Schools where she made many of her longest and most meaningful friendships.  When she was eleven years old she met a special neighbor and classmate named Ron Schaefer that would set the path for the rest of her life.   She and Ron started as grade school friends, fell in love by the time she was 17, and married shortly after her high school graduation in 1961.  Their love story and partnership would continue beyond Ron's death in 2020 and for the remainder of Dianne's life.  It included 59 years of marriage, four sons that were all born before Dianne's 25th birthday, ten grandchildren that she ensured were connected as friends, twelve great grandchildren that will carry her legacy forward, and a modest family home that would become Dianne's castle and has been the family gathering place for 60 years.  Dianne was without question the matriarch, foundation, and heart of her family.   While Ron worked out of town for many years to provide for them, Dianne raised the boys with unwavering love and strength, setting an example for integrity, straight talk, and how to persevere and provide forgiveness through life's struggles.   Over the years, Ron, Dianne, the boys and their families built an indestructible bond forged by Dianne's love, commitment, and unbreakable will.   

While leading her own family was Dianne's life work and purpose, she was extremely proud of the many other identities she carried throughout her life.   She was the mischievous, defiant daughter of Bob and Nellie Angel who tested her parents but grew to revere them both.   She was a sister to Donna and Dorty and shared with them all the triumphs and heartbreaks that life offered.  She was a connector and historian who shared stories and provided a conduit between her offspring, her grandparents and the large number of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other notable relatives that she kept in touch with and shared a common heritage.  She was a valued friend to her classmates, the women in her book club, her monthly Jack and Dan's lunch group, 1980s Shadle Park athletic families, neighbors, and all others that would see the cars and stop by her home for a visit.  She was a 50-year teammate to Ruth and Janice on their Forever Friends bowling team.  She was a business owner who ran her own painting, wallpaper, and decorating company for 20 years. She was an organizer that joined a group of other parents to form and initiate the Shadle Park Booster Club that has existed for 45 years.  She was a patriot and commentator who loved her country, voted in every election, always had an opinion that she was more than willing to share and defend, and who cherished her membership in the Jonas Babcock chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  She was a one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life presence that will never be replaced.

Dianne's honesty, laughter, welcoming nature, and fierce defense of her loved ones are gifts that we will hold in our hearts. She passed away on Saturday evening, June 27, 2026 after impressively battling  cancer and other illnesses in a manner that only she could.  Dianne is preceded in death by her husband Ron Schaefer, her parents Bob and Nellie (Slater) Angel, and her sisters Donna (Gary) Bondahl and Dorothy Angel. She is survived by her grateful sons Kent (Michelle), Reed (Nancy), Ryan (Stacy), and Kreg (Denise); her adored grandchildren Mikala (Boe) Zinter, Robert (Alexa), Riley (Taylor), Jake, Frankie, Max, Jack, Lexi (Caleb) Carrasco, Sam (Nicole), and Lindsey (Nick) Naccarato, and twelve great-grandchildren.  Special thanks go to her trusted caretaker Evelyn Taylor who managed the final months of Dianne's life, became a part of Dianne's heart, and was an answered prayer for the Schaefer family.   

Graveside Services will be held at Heritage Funeral Home on July 17th, 2026 at 2pm with reception to immediately follow.