Funeral for Diane Ylitalo

Welcome & Thank You

Thank you for your many acts of kindness and love, as well as your prayers during this extended illness.

Diane’s family and close friends will continue to need these prayers and your encouragement in the days to come.

Obituary

Diane Allen Ylitalo (ILL-AH-TAH-LO), 77, of Black Mountain, passed away Monday, July 8, 2024, at Mission Hospital in Asheville. A native of Western North Carolina, Diane was born December 17, 1946, to the late William Hayes and Earlene Robinson Allen. She was a graduate of Charles D. Owen High School. Prior to retirement, she spent her career in food service. She loved sewing, crafting, thrift stores, and flea markets. Diane was a faithful Christian and member of Meadowbrook Free Will Baptist Church in Black Mountain. She was also a member of the Old Fort Senior Center and participated in the McDowell County Senior Games for many years, where she proudly won many gold medals. She last participated in the 2023 Senior Games, just a few short months prior to her extended illness. In addition to her parents, Diane is preceded in death by her husband, John Ylitalo; her sisters, Karen, Jolena, Linda, Nancy, and Dot; brothers, Avery and Johnny; and infant son. Diane is survived by her daughter, JoAnn and husband Allen of Kannapolis, NC; sister, Ramona Williams of Traveler’s Rest, SC; special friend, James Taylor of Black Mountain; many nieces and nephews; and her sweet cats, Orange Boy and Paws. The family would like to recognize and thank the staff at Mountain Ridge Health and Wellness for their kindness to Diane over the last six months and making her feel at home.

Opening Prayer

Thoughts from JoAnn (Daughter)

Diane had about an hour of clarity on Thursday. We had a long talk and she said she knew she was going to be able to breathe again! She would see her family. Her parents. Her sisters and brothers. My dad. Her little animals, two of which have died during her illness due to their own illnesses. She was so happy and was not scared. I am so grateful we had that time while she was thinking clearly.

She loved to cook and host dinners and parties. We had huge family Christmas parties for years and she would prepare every single thing in the kitchen, from hams and turkeys to chocolate covered peanut butter balls. And her famous dolly dessert bars.

She was a full time caretaker for my dad when he had cancer until he died, while she was still working full time herself, and even with a burned foot from an accident at work.

She worked in food service for her entire career. I have early memories of hanging out at the Black Mountain Western Steer while she waited tables, and my first unofficial jobs was at Peppers, because I would hang out and help and get a little cash for my assistance.

After retirement Diane and her best friend Jim spent countless hours fellowshipping with their friends at the Old Fort Senior Center. She spoke so fondly of all her friends she made there. Her participation at the Senior Center segued into her participation with the McDowell County Senior Games. She received gold medals every year in multiple events. She participated in the Games as recently as May 2023, just a few short months before she was hospitalized.

Diane began attending Meadowbrook FWB Church with Jim several years ago after our home church closed. She made many close friends at Meadowbrook. She spoke many times during her illness that one thing she missed was attending Church on Sundays. She had hoped to be able to attend, even with her oxygen in hand one day, but unfortunately was unable to do so.

Even during her extended illness she tried so very hard. It’s a theme that covers her entire life—work hard and try hard. She tried to eat. She tried hard at physical therapy. She had boundless energy prior to becoming ill. That was one of the most devastating parts of her illness, the inability to do most physical activities. But she still kept a smile on her face despite the difficulties she encountered the last 10 months.

Although these circumstances are devastating, I find comfort in the fact she KNOWS she will breathe better, see her family, and do everything she used to be able to do.

JoAnn would also like to thank Jim for his dedication to her, being by her side every day, taking her out when she was able, and taking care of her cats every day since last September. He is appreciated.

Personal Thoughts

A year and a half was not long enough to know Diane, but I’m grateful for that time.

Before her sickness she was very faithful and very involved in our congregation and I’m saddened that her repeated bouts of pneumonia kept her from being able to attend like she wanted to.

She was always appreciative of my visits, even when she wasn’t feeling well, somehow, she always managed a smile and I’m so thankful for the huge smile I got to see LAST FRIDAY.

I can only imagine the smile that is on her face TODAY, able to breath God’s heavenly air, no more COPD, no more pneumonia, no more sickness, only PARADISE.

Funeral Message

I want to share with you the Scriptures that I shared with her the day before she passed.

The first passage was from John 14:1-6

John 14:1–6 KJV

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

COMMENTS

The other passage was from Revelation 21:1-4

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

COMMENTS

Do YOU Have this HOPE for YOURSELF?

I am thankful for the HOPE that we can have because of what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross.

As we grieve the loss of our beloved friend, we recall the inspiring story of Corrie ten Boom, who faced immense suffering during the Holocaust. Despite the darkness that surrounded her, she clung to the hope found in God's Word, proclaiming, 'There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still.' In our sorrow, may we find solace in the unchanging love of our Heavenly Father.

I am thankful for the HOPE DIANE HAD because of her trust in Christ and what He had provided for HER. Because of that, even in the midst of her pain, and suffering, and agony

SHE WAS ABLE TO HAVE PEACE.

After I pray, we will listen to the words of “PEACE IN THE VALLEY.”

Prayer

Song: Peace in the Valley

GRAVESIDE

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NKJV

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.