Diane Marie (Flamm) Mccleland

Diana Marie McCleland, passed away peacefully on the morning of December 16 in Carbondale, at the age of 72, surrounded by loving family. Diane was born April 16, 1952 to Robert Flamm and Martha Flamm, nee Basler, in Anna.

After graduating from Cobden High School, she married the love of her life, Michael McCleland, in 1971 and had two sons, Jacob and Jerod. Diane was a loving mother and wife, a doting grandmother, a caring sister, a lot of people's favorite aunt, and a thoughtful and loyal friend. Quite simply, she was a delight who will be missed by everybody who knew her.

Diane loved teaching children and worked as a reading specialist at Lincoln Elementary in Anna, for over two decades. Countless former students fondly remember "Miss Diane" for her kindness and fun games. Diane and her friends were a familiar sight in Cobden, as they walked, ran, and bicycled through town. She was an avid runner and completed her first marathon in 2012 at the age of 60. She also loved the outdoors and climbed mountains with family and friends.

Even though Diane never took herself too seriously, she was serious about putting on a show at the Cobden Peach Festival Parade. Every year, she and her friends would march as costumed troupes of outlandish misfits with names like the "Not-so Peachy Queens," the "Not-so Grand Marshalls," and the "Not-so Lady Gagas." On Halloween, Diane and the same friends loved to trick-or-treat well past the age that is considered socially acceptable. To many, Diane's Halloween hijinks were a highlight of the year.

Survivors include her husband, Michael McCleland, of Carbondale; her son, Jerod McCleland, of Austin, Texas; and her son, Jacob McCleland, daughter-in-law, Alessandra Perez de McCleland, and grandchild William McCleland Perez, of Arlington, Virginia; and sisters Theresa Hatley, Roberta Vanover, Nancy Flamm, and Toni Campbell. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law, Donnie Campbell.

Funeral mass will be at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, December 19, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cobden with Father Uriel Salamanca officiating. Interment will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Cobden. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Cobden Wednesday, December 18, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude's Medical Center or St. Joseph's Church in Cobden. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.