Diane C. Echele

Diane C. Echele, surrounded by loving family, went to her heavenly home Jan. 17, 2017.  She was born March 1,1966 in St. Charles,  MO to Leo and the late Jeanette(Ell) Echele.  Diane was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth.  At the hospital, doctors advised her parents to institutionalize her but they said no.  They took her home to raise her along with their other 3 children.

Jeanette enrolled Diane in a pre-school for children with special needs when she was about 3 years old.  She made many friends, had  fun and learned a lot.  A few years later, she started attending school at Booneslick State school, which she graduated from in 1987.  In 1988,   she started working at her only job, an assembler at Boone Center Workshop.  She loved going to work every day and had many friends at BCI.  Her favorite task there was working on mouse traps.  She retired in 2013 after 25 years.

Diane enjoyed attending dances with PEP, bowling,  and swimming.  At home she loved watching food shows on TV  with her mom.  Emeril Lagasse was her favorite!  She also stayed busy working on jigsaw puzzles, making latch hook pieces and drawing.  And she loved spending time with her niece and nephews.

Diane is survived by her father Leo,  brothers Robert and Allen, sister Elaine(Bob) Kneemiller, all of St. Charles County, niece Catie/Sr. Mary Joseph of Alton, IL., nephews Chris, Ted, John, Mark and Joe.

Additionally she is survived by numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, and her Emmaus home family.

The family asks the contributions be sent to Emmaus Homes or Alzheimer’s Assoc.

The Echele family wishes to extend our extreme gratitude to the wonderful  Emmaus  staff and roommates at 65 Honor.  Diane was with you for less than a year, but you made her a part of the family immediately.  I know she loved you as much as you all loved her.