Obituary of Diane Lynne Schilt

Diane (Dee Dee) Lynne Hollasch Schilt ended her suffering as she left us to continue her life in Christ on May 13, 2010. She battled kidney failure for almost 13 years before deciding to end her dialysis treatment. While sleeping at home in her husband's loving arms she was enveloped by God's even more loving arms, passing quietly to the peace she sought for so long. Dee Dee was born December 23, 1954 in San Francisco and was the second oldest of three girls born to Raymond and Rosalie Herrera Hollasch. She grew up in Burlingame, CA and completed her secretarial training at Heald College, receiving an award for the fastest in shorthand. She took great pride in her work and received numerous commendation awards for work in civil service, first with law enforcement, then at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco and finally at CINCPACFLT with the Navy in Hawaii. While working at Letterman, she met her future husband, Stephen N. Schilt. They were married on September 9, 1979 in the chapel at the Presidio of San Francisco, and moved to Hawaii, where Dee Dee would say, "We had a two year honeymoon!" Her real career began after they moved to Ft. Hood, TX, with the birth of their first child. She loved every aspect of motherhood including her pregnancies. Despite medical complications and risk to herself, she continued choosing to give life, having C-sections to birth five children in 6 1/2 years. The family moved to Tacoma in 1982 and, as office manager, she helped establish and maintain her husband's psychiatric practice, while continuing her responsibilities as a full-time mother. Her organizational skills and ability to multitask allowed her an amazing ability to keep the family and office running smoothly. She was the glue that held her family together. She was active in the PTA, and often volunteered in her children's classrooms, including teaching Spanish. Dee Dee loved the arts in various forms and enjoyed her crafts. Refusing a pattern, her works in macrame and crochet were all original creations. Music was a joy to her, and she supported this in her children, who all took up string instruments. She loved to celebrate and her unbridled enthusiasm made each holiday a special family event. She also enjoyed cruising, dancing and beach vacations, especially her 25th anniversary celebration in Tahiti. In later years, her joy was her grandchildren. Regardless of her pain and suffering, they always brought a smile, even hours before her death. Her passion was Peanuts collecting and her favorite character was Charlie Brown. She always identified with his never ending attempt to kick that football, especially as she battled her illness. By the grace of God, she finally kicked that ball as He welcomed her home. Most important in her later years was her life in Christ that gave her the peace of knowing this life is only the beginning. Besides her husband of 30 years, she is survived by her parents, two sisters, Deborah Bruni and Cindy Smith, five children, Justin, Jeffrey, Jared, Jaclyn and Joseph Schilt, and three grandchildren, Kasey, Samantha and Jael. During the final days her commitment to her faith and family never wavered, and her only concern with passing was about others. She shared a blessed closeness in poignant times with family and friends during those last precious days, while they anticipated her passing into the arms of God. Guest book is available at edwardsmemorial.com. Gifts to commemorate her life may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Those who wish to celebrate her life and legacy of love are invited to join her family at Titlow Lodge, 8425 6th Avenue, Tacoma on June 5, 2010 at 4:00 PM.