Diane Cecelia (Fellin) Sommerhauser, of St. Louis, MO, Baptized into the Hope of Christ’s Resurrection, suddenly after a long and courageous battle with cancer on Friday, December 5, 2025. Born on December 5, 1943 to the late Eugene and Mildred (Haas) Fellin. Dear sister of twin Donald (Kathleen), Christine, Paul, and Tom (Kay) and late brother John. Loving mother of Lisa, Kurt, Karl (Loretta), and Mark (Joella). Loving grandmother of Margaret, Amelia, and Sage. Former spouse of the late Kenneth Sommerhauser. Dear friend to many.
Diane graduated from Bishop DuBourg High School (’61) and Miss Hickey’s School for Secretaries (’62). While working downtown for Green, Hennings, Henry, Evans, and Arnold Attys. in one of her first secretarial positions, each day Diane would watch the construction progress of the Gateway Arch in its earliest phases before beginning a family and life as a homemaker raising four children. Diane took great joy volunteering at Holy Family School in many ways as her children grew.
Diane returned to her secretarial career and served at St. Louis Community College in the Telecourse Office for over 20 years, helping to pioneer distance learning in her role long before the internet. She assisted many faculty, staff and students throughout the years and also served as the Missouri-Illinois Telelearning Consortium (MITCO) Secretary.
In recent years, Diane closely followed the St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Chiefs, enjoying the games and rooting for all of her favorite players. Her family was special and her most cherished moments were with her children and grandchildren sharing life, love, and the precious time spent together. Diane was always a giving soul and will be remembered by her sparkling blue eyes, quick laugh, and gentle kindness. Diane will be cherished by all who knew her and she leaves us with hearts filled with love and memories that will stay with us forever.
SERVICES: Memorial Visitation will be at KUTIS AFFTON CHAPEL (10151 Gravois Rd., St. Louis, MO 63123) on Friday, December 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, December 20th at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church (5020 Rhodes Ave., St. Louis, MO 63109) at 10:00 a.m. A private interment service will take place for immediate family only.
In lieu of flowers and with gratitude to Diane’s Team and Healthcare Family at Mercy David C. Pratt Cancer Center of St. Louis, memorials may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Carl and Loretta and girls you have my deepest sympathy for the loss of your mother. I pray now that she will rest in peace and let Perpetual light shine upon her. Love, cousin Rose Marie Bryant
Karl, Loretta, my thoughts are with you and your entire family on your loss. My deepest condolences. Diane was always welcoming and may she now rest in peace. Love Nicole
I am so sad to here this. Many years ago I baby sat for her children when they all lived on McDonald. We would have so many long talks about marriage ☺. I remember When I was 16 and she called me up to see if I would be interested in baby sitting and I said yes. She said you might want to think about it because I have 4 children. I said yes!
Gerri,
Thank you for the great memories- you were our favorite babysitter! – Love, Lisa
I will be at the funeral parlor on Friday. I want you to know that I enjoyed watching you and your brothers. The four of you were always so well behaved. Everytime I drive by that apartment building I always think of you kids and your mother.
Lisa, I can see that your mom was a very special woman
You summed up my memory of her with these word…… Diane was always a giving soul and will be remembered by her sparkling blue eyes, quick laugh, and gentle kindness.
At Christmas time, I always looked forward to her card and the little note that she put inside, but it’s nice to know that this Christmas she’ll be sitting up in heaven with Jesus, looking down on her family and smiling.
I fondly remember spending many evenings with Diane and her children as a seminarian assigned to Holy Family parish in 1983. Very hospitable, the family treated me kindness and inclusion. May God rest her kindly soul.
Fr. Mike Lydon
A Life Well Loved
A twin soul entered the world in grace,
Diane—whose life would gently weave
Faith, family, love, and steadfast place.
A daughter first, to Eugene and Mildred dear,
A sister bound by laughter, tears, and time,
Twin to Donald, with Christine, Paul, and Tom,
Remembering John in love beyond this life.
She learned her craft with careful hands,
From DuBourg halls to Hickey’s guiding way,
Watching steel rise toward the sky
As the Arch took shape each working day.
Four children filled her heart and home—
Lisa, Kurt, Karl, and Mark her pride,
In Holy Family’s busy rooms
She served with joy, with arms spread wide.
When years turned pages, she returned to work,
A quiet pioneer before screens and wires,
At Community College she opened doors
To distant learners and hopeful desires.
Through telecourses, calls, and care,
She helped minds reach where feet could not,
Serving students, faculty, friends alike,
Faithful in every unseen plot.
Her love grew richer with grandchildren’s smiles—
Margaret, Amelia, Sage so dear,
Moments shared became her treasure,
Each laugh a grace, each hug a prayer.
She cheered her teams with loyal heart,
Blues and Cardinals, Chiefs as well,
But nothing matched her family’s call—
Where her truest joys would dwell.
Through illness faced with courage rare,
She bore the cross with quiet strength,
A giving soul to the very end,
Love unmeasured, beyond all length.
Now baptized fully in risen light,
She rests where pain can touch no more,
Blue eyes sparkling, laughter alive,
At heaven’s wide and welcoming door.
Her kindness lingers, her love remains,
In stories told and lives made whole,
For those who knew and cherished Diane
Carry her forever in the soul.
Dear Kurt,
I am so sorry for your loss. I didn’t get the chance to know your mom but I know that she raised a lovely son in you. We at OLS’s Respect Life Ministry will pray for Diane and your whole family. May God lead her to new life and peace.
A recording of Diane’s Memorial Mass is available to watch at https://saintlucystl.org/livestream ….. December 20, 2025
On behalf of The Sommerhauser Family, thank you all for the beautiful memories of our Mom, Diane! We treasure you all and your honoring her and comforting us with your presence at her Memorial Visitation, Funeral Mass (including streaming) and luncheon. So good to see so many who Mom loved and called family and friends! It brought the true meaning of Christmas forth: that God sent Baby Jesus to be a light to the world, a sign of peace and comfort. He is Our Savior. We know we will be together again in Heaven!