Diane Lee (Casbeer) Louis, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend died peacefully at home in Chicago, IL on June 28th, after a long illness, in the presence of her beloved husband of 39 years, David Louis.

Born on May 28, 1951 to Robert Casbeer and Carol Herrington Casbeer, Diane grew up in Painted Post, NY. Despite a high school guidance counselor once telling her that her only options as a woman were to be a secretary or homemaker, Diane moved to Buffalo, NY to complete her bachelor's degree in Sociology at the University of Buffalo.

Diane went to work in Buffalo NY as a Research Scientist for the Research Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, and was proud to have lived there during the famous blizzard of 1977. In her role as a Research Scientist, she was a published author.

While working in Buffalo, Diane became a Union Steward, and championed workers' rights in what was a hostile workplace. She would proudly dress up on Fridays and file grievances on behalf of her co-workers. She later moved to Albany NY where she took a job as a Field Representative for the New York State Public Employees Federation Union. In that capacity, she protected the rights of many employees in various state agencies.

It was in Albany that she met her husband (David) through a mutual friend. They bonded immediately and began their love affair as they watched the 1984 Winter Olympics. Later that year, they saw a home in New Baltimore, NY that they both fell in love with and in 1985, they were married in their meadow.

As someone who always aligned with progressive causes (she fondly identified as a "hippie"), she breathed life into the Democratic Party in New Baltimore, where she was the party chair for 30 years, helping to elect many Democratic candidates (including David, who was the first Democrat to hold the office of Town Supervisor). She was also a State Democratic Committeeperson. She volunteered on state-wide and national campaigns as well, including organizing community phonebanks during the 2008 presidential election in favor of then-Senator Barack Obama. In Chicago, she volunteered with the local 47th Ward Democratic Organization.

Diane chose to stay home to raise their two children, Drew and Sarah. She introduced them to films, in particular Star Wars and James Bond movies. Diane was a constant presence in her children's schools, from organizing book fairs to serving on the Ravena Coeymans Selkirk Board of Education. At home, she organized Swim Classes with instructors for children in their backyard pool.

As her children grew older, Diane returned to work, first as an Office Manager for Assemblywoman Joan Millman, and later for the Speaker of the Assembly in the Speaker's Correspondence Office. In 2016, Diane and David began a new chapter by moving to Chicago, which they chose for its public transportation, sports and culture.

Diane was a strong believer in the Christian faith and raised Protestant, though she converted to Catholicism in adulthood as she was enthralled by Catholic rituals. She volunteered regularly with St. Patrick's Church in Ravena, NY at both the food pantry and thrift store that the church organized and attended weekly mass services. When she and David relocated to Chicago, IL in 2016, she became a member of St. Benedict's Church, where she joined the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, where she volunteered her time and services, taking notes at monthly meetings, helping with food drives, and sharing resources with her fellow church-goers, including "Know Your Rights" pamphlets for undocumented neighbors.

She was a tireless volunteer for many causes close to her heart. Besides church and political advocacy, she was an escort for Planned Parenthood. Diane liked to garden and practice yoga. She was an avid sports fan, particularly hockey and baseball. Her family were longtime New York Yankees fans (which she too supported, to her Mets-fan husband's chagrin), and she enjoyed attending Chicago White Sox games with David after they moved to Chicago. She loved music of all different genres, but particularly jazz, blues, and classic rock. Diane loved encountering new things and meeting new people. She was very proud of her children and delighted to be a grandparent to Bella and Leonardo.

Diane will be remembered as a woman of vibrant personality and generous spirit, someone who was kind, strong and supportive of anyone in need. Her energy was contagious, and she had a heart big enough to hold everyone she met, including any stranger she may encounter. She was a proud vegetarian and went out of her way to buy from locally owned merchants.

She is survived by her husband David, her son Drew (Nallely Galicia) Louis of Albuquerque and their children: Bella and Leonardo; her daughter Sarah Louis of New York City; her siblings, Jean Neville of Chambersburg, PA, Tim Casbeer of Athens, Georgia, and Terry (Faith) Casbeer of Horseheads, NY; her best friend, Karen Franklin of Pittsboro, NC, her beloved dog Sir Winston, Thundercloud the Cat, and many more family and close friends from her life journey. She will be missed beyond measure and remembered with immense love and admiration by all who knew her. We are especially thankful to Diane's caregivers and Advocate Hospice.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 5th at 11 am at St. Benedict's Church, 2215 W Irving Park Rd., Chicago. Friends are cordially invited to visit on Wednesday, July 2nd or Thursday, July 3rd between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm at the Louis residence, 1933 W Irving Park Rd., Apt 2, Chicago IL. A celebration of her life will be planned for this Fall in Chicago and New Baltimore.

In honor of Diane's memory, and in lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Snow Approach Foundation (snowapproach.org), whose mission is to improve quality of life for people living with brain changes. Diane would also smile down on anyone who shows kindness and care to neighbors and strangers alike.