Diane Comer-Rabaza was born in Lockport, Illinois on August 9, 1965 to Marlene and Donald Comer. She passed away on February 5, 2023 at home in Sycamore, surrounded by her family and friends after a two year battle with cancer.

Diane graduated from Plainfield High School in 1983 and attended Joliet Junior College for a year before transferring to The College of St. Francis, where she continued her studies and played basketball on a scholarship. Diane graduated with a BA in Therapeutic Recreation. She went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from National-Louis University. During her career, she scored just over one thousand points and was inducted into the now-St. Francis University Hall of Fame in 1996.

Diane worked in Therapeutic Recreation at Mercy Center in Aurora, McCauley Manor in Aurora, and St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. During this time she also worked part-time as the Varsity Girls Basketball coach at Newark High School. The school won the girls regional title for the first time during her tenure. Diane changed professions to teach PE and coach Varsity Girls Basketball and Field Hockey. She retired from full-time work in 2015.

Diane and her husband, Mario Rabaza, were married on May 4, 2002 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia and moved to Sycamore in August of the same year.

Diane remained an athletic woman throughout her adult life, competing in triathlons and running on a regular basis. She completed many 10k runs and one half marathon. When foot problems precluded her from running, Diane and her husband began a daily walking program of between three and five miles which continued throughout her illness until the last three months of her life. She loved spending time in her swimming pool with family and friends working on her tan, listening to Jimmy Buffet and drinking margaritas.

Diane filled our lives with kindness, love, fun, dedication, caring and laughter. She had a gift and presented it to all of us; to find joy, love, and passion, no matter how big the prize. She loved and treasured life and always put others first.

She is preceded in death by her father, Donald Comer; her father-in-law, Delio Rabaza; her mother-in-law, Mary Ann Rabaza; and her long-time friend and coaching partner, Lisa Weber.

She is survived by her husband, Mario; her mother, Marlene Comer; and her brothers, Dan (Carlene) Comer and David (Cathy) Comer. She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces, both familial and informal and four godchildren, Nicole, Peyton, Dominic and William.

A visitation will be held at the Butala Funeral Home, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL, from 2:00-5:00 pm on Saturday, February 11 ^th . For the visitation, no formal attire, please. Di requested Duke Blue Devils and Chicago Cubs attire.

In lieu of flowers, Diane would appreciate donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in care of Butala Funeral Home.

To sign the online guest book or share a special memory, go to www.butalafuneralhomes.com