Diane Estella Bickel (Nana) died early on Christmas Eve. She is now reunited with her savior, Jesus Christ, and catching up with her beloved family. Diane was born March 6, 1948, in Celina, OH, to Leona and Albert Watercutter and was the sister to four brothers: Marvin, Gary, Dale, and Randy. Diane learned very early on how to run a household and help take care of the “boys.” Diane attended Minster High School, where she excelled in academics and P.E. Diane always regretted that she didn’t have more opportunities to play organized sports or to further her education, but despite these hurdles, she excelled in life.
Diane was talented in the kitchen and was famous for her staple dish of chicken and noodles with gravy. Her drink of choice to accompany any dish she made was always Diet Coke. and more Diet Coke!
Diane was also a fiercely loyal friend who held a tight-knit friendship with her girl crew, the “Dependables,” for over 70 years. In this group, she was affectionately known as “cutter” and was regarded by the group to be the brains of the operation. There were shenanigans to be had and mistakes to be made, but they always had one another’s back. To the very end, her friends stayed with her and supported her.
Diane was a traveler at heart, with one of her most notable trips being to Rome. There, she received a papal blessing. Like a wide-eyed kid, she managed to survive her Italy travels with a credit card that didn’t work, just laughing and living off of crackers and wine and hopping “free” rides off the transit for days in San Gimignano.
Diane’s talents extended onto the dance floor, and she could loop a hula-hoop for hours. She seldom could be beaten in Jeopardy. Her unique ability to find the joy in every situation was easily observable.
Diane’s real passion in life was her four grandchildren, Cooper Myers, Zoe Myers, Rowan Bickel, and Luke Bickel. The mutual adoration was palpable, and their Nana knew how to make their childhoods magical. Nana was her grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader and, at times, fiercest competitor. On any given day, she could be found sparring over the last peanut butter cup in the moose tracks, dominating a game of four-square, or challenging them to a game of PIG. Diane was also a legendary head-scratcher and spent many hours rubbing the feet, heads, and backs of her grandchildren.
She was a fighter and fought for those she loved until the very end. Diane taught her grandchildren to never settle for less than they deserve. Diane is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Leona Watercutter, her brothers Marvin, Gary, and Dale, and her nephew, Alex Watercutter.
In sickness or health, she was tough as nails and never complained. She was a devout Catholic and a true child of God. Diane was one of God’s greatest gifts and will be greatly missed.
Please join us for mass at St Augustine in Minster at 9:30 on Saturday, January 6, and then immediately follow a celebration of her life at the Minster Knights of Columbus until 2:00 PM. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Hogenkamp Funeral Home Minster. Condolences may be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.
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