DIANA LEE MALIK

Diana Lee Malik, 80, a longtime resident of Arlington Heights, passed away on July 7, 2023, after a battle with cancer. She was born on February 24, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, to Frances and Arthur Wosch. She was the beloved wife of Sargon Malik who preceded her in death; and loving mother to Tracy Pons (Carlos), Scott, Craig (Jessica), Troy (Diane); and grandmother to Ella, Tyler, Ben, Rachel, Kevin and Jett. As a young girl, Diana developed a love of tennis from her father and performing arts from her mother. Ultimately, Diana found her passion in classical ballet which eventually led her to an early career as a professional dancer where she toured nationally. She went on to study dance at Butler University and continued to teach dance as an adult. Diana split her time between raising four children and working in a family business she owned with her husband. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends, going to musicals, visiting for lunch and shopping. She was a great cook and loved to entertain family and friends. She was a patient teacher and shared her passion for entertaining and cooking with her children and grandchildren. Known for her gentle spirit and even temperament, one of her most enduring legacies to those who knew her was to slow down and not get upset about the small stuff in life. Ever the ballerina, Diana faced her mortality with poise and grace. She felt lucky to have been healthy for the majority of her life, to have parents that loved her and whom she adored. She raised her four children with love and imparted her spirit in each of them to be kind, compassionate and honest. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 1 PM to 4 PM (tribute at 2 PM) at Meadows Funeral Home (www.meadowsfh.com) in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Barrington is private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Assyrian Aid Society of America (assyrianaid.org) or Forward Momentum Chicago (www.forwardmomentumchicago.org) in memory of Diana Malik.