Dianna L. Rycek 1956-2025

Dianna was born April 25, 1956, in Youngstown. Dianna was the daughter of Jack and Elizabeth Long Norman. She was a graduate of Boardman High School.

On June 29, 1974, Dianna married the love of her life, Jerome D. Rycek. Together they started a family, and Dianna became a proud homemaker. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, sister, aunt and friend. Dianna was proud to be the matriarch of her family and cherished every moment she spent with them, especially cooking and entertaining. She will be fondly remembered for her many dishes, especially her homemade stuffed cabbage.

After her children were in school, Dianna obtained her CDL on Nov 7, 1997, and became a Youngstown City School District bus driver. She took pride in her job and was always passionate about it.

Dianna also went on to become a CDL instructor, as well as a safety instructor. Dianna would dress up as a clown and go to the local schools and teach bus safety. She also participated in the Regional School Bus Driver Rodeo. She loved her job, her students and all her co-workers.

Dianna enjoyed many things, but hosting Christmas was her favorite. She made Christmas magical. And her house would look like a Christmas wonderland.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 51 years, Jerome; her children, Heather Rycek and Crystal (Preston Phillips) Rycek; grandchildren, Brooke (Kevin Merrell) Beniston and Layla Rycek; great-grandchildren, Gracen Jerome and Meadow Rae Lynn; her siblings, Deborah Murry and Gary Phipps; sister-in-law, Joyce Marco; and brother-in-law, Vince Marco.

In addition to her parents, Dianna was preceded in death by her son, Jerome David Rycek II; her sister, Cynthia Wood; brother, Phillip Bloom; sister-in-law, Sandra Strobel; brother-in-law, Stanley “Butch” Rycek; as well as her in-laws, Stanley and Anna Rycek.

Family and friends will be received noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan 3, 2026, at the Rossi Brothers and Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave. in Boardman, followed by a 2 p.m. funeral service.

Family and friends are encouraged to offer prayers for the family and support by visiting the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com.

(special notice)