Diane E. Galles

Diane was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 14, 1943 and born into eternal life on March 21, 2023 at the age of 79.

In her youth, Diane loved to read and learn new things.  Being the oldest sibling of four, she often cared for her siblings and realized her calling to teach and care for children.  After graduating with a degree in elementary education from Alverno College in 1965, Diane enjoyed teaching at Longfellow Elementary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for several years.  It was in Milwaukee that she met her future husband and the love of her life, Bill Galles, at a bar.  The couple enjoyed dating and attending CYO young adult events together. Bill and Diane were married in 1969.

Soon after, the couple moved to Kokomo, Indiana where they raised their five sons.  Diane always found time to be present for her boys.  Being a good listener, helping with homework, volunteering for school activities, chauffeuring, teaching Sunday school, and being a cub scout den mother were just a few of the many ways she participated in their lives.

Diane was a woman who loved the Lord and her Catholic faith.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She could often be found visiting and babysitting her grandchildren. Throughout her lifetime of service to  family, Diane still managed to find the time to serve others.  Diane’s special love and calling was to serve in pro-life ministries.  To Diane, a person was a person and a gift from God, no matter how small.  Diane was an active volunteer for Birthright of Kokomo, Indiana Right to Life, and Kokomo’s Nesting Doves, a Christ-centered organization that provided housing for unwed mothers.  Diane was also active in the prayer shawl ministry of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Kokomo using her life-long talent of crocheting blankets for those in need.

Diane is survived by her husband, William Galles, her sons, Joseph (Tara) Galles, Kevin (Sandra) Galles, Robert (Maria) Galles, Steven Galles, Jeffrey (Lindsey) Galles, and her siblings, Mary Ann Searing, Allen Searing, 21 grandchildren, and one great–granddaughter.  Diane is preceded by her parents Elmer Searing and Evelyn (Przybylski), and her brother Russell Searing.

A visitation will be held Saturday, March 25th from 9 AM to 10 AM at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Westfield, Indiana.   A funeral mass will follow the visitation at St. Maria Goretti beginning at 10 AM.  Diane will be laid to rest at Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Diane’s name to any of her favorite charities: Birthright of Kokomo, Indiana Right to Life, or Priests for Life.

Arrangements were entrusted to Flanner Buchanan – Hamilton Memorial Park.