ROCKFORD - Irene Mae Diemer, 89, of Rockford, formerly of Mendota passed away Sept. 5, 2018 at Cherryvale Assisted Living in Rockford.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 10 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Mendota. Rev. Peter Pilon will officiate. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. on Sept. 10 at the Schwarz Funeral Home, Mendota.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Brady Chandler and Dane, Matt, Noah, Ryan and Tony Diemer.

Irene was born May 19, 1929 in Urbana to Gothie and Rose (Parr) Barnhart. She married Bernard Diemer on March 31, 1950. He preceded her in death on Nov. 2, 2013.

Survivors include five sons, Marc “Steven” (Suzy) Diemer of Utica, John (Cheryl) Diemer of Rockford, Thomas (Mary) Diemer of West Des Moines, Iowa, Richard (Laura) Diemer of Cedarville and Michael (Maria) Diemer of Rockford; 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two daughters, Elizabeth Diemer on Nov. 8, 1961 and Margaret Susan Chandler on Nov. 20, 2001; and one sister, Ann Hartwell.

Irene was a homemaker. She was a member of Holy Cross Church in Mendota and Holy Family Church in Rockford. She loved playing euchre.

Memorials may be directed to OSF Hospice, 5501 East State St., Rockford, IL 61108.

Condolences may be left at schwarzfuneral.com.