Diane Jane Cummings

Dec. 10, 1944 - Jan. 21, 2007

Diane Jane Cummings of Waukesha died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, at Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital at age 62. Diane was born Dec. 10, 1944, the daughter of Jane and Andrew Schnell. She was united in marriage to Stephen Cummings on Aug. 29, 1975. Diane will be sadly missed by her husband, Stephen of Waukesha; her children, Jeffrey (Grace) Cummings of Tampa Bay, Fla., and Carolyn (Eric) Standarski of Waukesha; her grandchildren, Taylor, Bailey Jane, Mason and Zachariah; her brother, Drew Schnell of Waukesha; her sister, Sandra Schnell of Waukesha; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harold and Martha Cummings of Waukesha. She is further survived by other relatives and many friends.

Diane’s parents preceded her in death.

Diane’s kindness and generosity will be missed. Despite her rough start in life, she flourished to become a wonderful wife, mother and caregiver to many of the neighborhood children. She had a place in her heart for all of God’s creatures, especially her dogs Muffy and Sparky, her cat Midnight, and all the animals that lived in her large oak tree in her back yard. Diane enjoyed life to its fullest, vacationing in Door County with family, bowling at Sunset Bowl and playing bingo with her bingo buddies.

Diane set medical history as the first blue baby to receive Dr. Pott’s revolutionary surgery to extend the life of infants with this condition in 1947 at the age of 21 months. This pioneering surgery took place at Children Hospital in Chicago. This procedure bought Diane time until open heart surgery was perfected. At the age of 21, she received the first of four open heart surgeries that allowed her to live on and enjoy a full life. Diane’s courage and strength was admired by all she touched and will continue to inspire all of those who know of her story and loved her.

The visitation for Diane will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha. A second visitation will take place from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service Saturday, Jan. 27, at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 300 Carroll St., Waukesha. The Rev. Kathy Boadwine will officiate. Burial will immediately follow the service at Prairie Home Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, 9000 W. Wisconsin Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53226.

For more information, call Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home and Cremation Services at 542-6609 or visit www.waukeshafuneralhome.com for online obituaries, directions or condolences.