Published on August 12, 2025 2:37 pm
Last Updated on August 12, 2025 2:52 pm
Diana Mae Podeszwa, age 94, of Effingham, Illinois passed away on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at Saint Anthony Hospital.
A private celebration of life for family and close friends will take place at a later date, with inurnment following at Iola Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may go to the donor’s choice. Online condolences can be expressed at www.pagelfuneralhome.com.
Diana was born on October 31, 1930 in Larkinsburg Township, the daughter of Ruba Owen White, Sr. and Minnie Mae Freeman. She married Leonard Podeszwa on May 27, 1961. They met when they were riding on the bus up to Chicago when he sat down beside her, and he was so impressed with her that he tracked her down at work to take her out on a date. She worked as a telegraph operator with Western Union for many years. Diana was an avid reader, and she kept a composition book of every author and book she read. She was a quilter, and loved sewing, quilting, and crocheting. She also loved to play golf with her husband Lenny.
Diana is survived by her sister-in-law, Jane White; and nephews, Dale Cook, Donald Logan, Kevin Logan (Sally), and Brett White (Julie); nieces, Linda Cook, Cathy Stein (Kerry), and Nancy Hinton (Randy).
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard Podeszwa; infant daughter, Kimberly Sue Podeszwa; parents, Ruba and Minnie White; brother, Ruba Owen, Jr.; sisters, Crystal Ulain Cook and Lula June Logan; brother-in-law, Joy Dean Logan; and nephews, Larry Logan and Joey Lynn Logan.