Diane Marie Kerkhof

Diane Marie Kerkhof, 90, of Westfield, Indiana, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2024. She was surrounded by loving family members in the comfort of her home. 

Born in Great Neck, NY on September 2, 1934, to Herbert and Clara Barber, Diane was the youngest of 7 children. She graduated from Great Neck High School and completed Nursing School at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC. In 1956, Jerry and Diane married. They lived in Indianapolis and raised 4 sons and 4 daughters. She was a life-long, devout Catholic and her greatest joy was her family. Diane was a registered nurse briefly before marriage and she returned to nursing full-time in 1976, working at Winona Memorial Hospital for 22 years.

Diane was arguably a pro-level cook. Her family was the recipient of countless meals and treats, either at her table “Diane’s Diner” or packed to go for their own homes. Additionally, she had a superb vocabulary and was an avid reader/crossword enthusiast. Diane loved to travel and increase her knowledge of the world. Other passions included going out for dinner, enjoying quality time with family and friends, laughing at a good clean joke, indulging in an occasional Old-Fashioned, hugging her grandbabies/great grandbabies, and spending evenings watching TV with Jerry.

Diane was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jerry Lee Kerkhof, she is now reunited with him in Heaven. She is survived by her 8 children (and their spouses): Lee (Leslie) Kerkhof, Leslie Zogheib, Carolyn (Scott) Wahl, Donna (Scot) Johnson, Kathy (Muno) Henderson, Michael (Susan) Kerkhof, Matt Kerkhof, and Kenneth Kerkhof, as well as 15 grandchildren, and soon to be 8 great grandchildren.

A long standing member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Indianapolis, she was active in Eucharistic Adoration, Funeral Meals Ministry, and Birthline, providing layettes and baby equipment to needy mothers. Jerry and Diane moved to Westfield in 2006 and were active members of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church.

Visitation will be held at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 17102 Spring Mill Rd. Westfield, IN on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 10:00 am, followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, much appreciated donations in memory of Diane Kerkhof can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at Online Donations - https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html or Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at https://healthcare.ascension.org/donate?