Dianne Marie "Lil Di" Michel

Willig Funeral Home & Crematory

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | June 07, 2025

Dianne Marie "Lil Di" Michel

Born April 4, 1967

Adopted into the arms of Lottie Ann Addington on March 12, 1968

Passed on June 4, 2025

And now, at last, is at peace.

Dianne Marie Michel, lovingly known by many as "Lil Di," was a woman of deep feeling and fierce edges-a complicated soul who lived a life marked by struggle, laughter, survival, and love in her own way. She was a daughter, a sister, a mother, a friend, and in many ways, a mystery even to herself.

She loved hard, hurt deeply, and rarely let her guard down. But underneath the weight she carried was a spirit that still wanted softness, still reached for grace.

Dianne had a fire in her-one that lit rooms when she let it, and sometimes scorched when the pain grew too heavy. She was scrappy, unapologetic, and entirely unforgettable. For those who knew her, even briefly, she left an impression that didn't fade easily.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Lottie Ann Addington, whom we trust met her with open arms on the other side.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Candace and James Hawthorne; her brother Kurt Addington; and her daughters, Cheyenne and Cierra Michel. She leaves behind two granddaughters, Isabella and Emma-bright souls she loved deeply in her own quiet ways.

Arrangements were entrusted to Willig Funeral Home & Crematory. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.willigfuneralcremationservices.com. Her memorial will be held on Monday, June 16th, 2025, from 12-8 PM at Magnolia Pavilion in White Oak Park. Food will be provided. No alcohol, please. This will be a space of memory, meaning, and love.

We invite you to come as you are-bring your stories, your presence, and your open heart.

Dianne's story was not simple, but it was real. And she mattered.

May she now find the peace she spent a lifetime searching for.

May we remember her in truth, in tenderness, and in release.

Originally published June 07, 2025.

Other deaths:
"John Raymond Palcsey" || "Mildred J. Myers"