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Funeral: 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Interment: Elmwood Cemetery, Flora
Visitation: 5:30 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the funeral home
Dianna Faye Cricelli, age 68, of Pocahontas, Illinois, passed away on April 12, 2024, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Born on August 31, 1955, in Flora, the daughter of Jim and Wanda (Vail) Brinkley, she arrived just moments after her twin sister, Glenda. She married Frank Cricelli on July 1, 1978.
Dianna was a 1973 graduate of Flora High School. She retired from Highland CUSD #5 as an administrative secretary on December 31, 2017. She was a strong Christian woman who cherished spending time with her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She loved watching them play sports activities of all kinds, including basketball, football, volleyball, and cheerleading. She also found pleasure in mowing her lawn, reading, quilting, and shopping.
Christmas was Dianna’s favorite holiday, during which she would decorate every room throughout her home and create homemade chocolates for over 50 families each year. She loved to shop for her family and went to Branson, Missouri, every November with her sisters, nieces, and other family members to start the holiday shopping, often returning with a car packed to the brim and little room for passengers.
She also hosted an Easter Egg Hunt each year in Flora for all her nieces and nephews, as well as one for the children of her friends in Highland. She truly loved to do things for others all of the time.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years: Frank Cricelli of Pocahontas; 2 sons: Dominic Nicholas William Cricelli (Cari) and Nathan Scott Cricelli, both of Highland; 7 grandchildren: Alexia Cricelli, Parker Cricelli, Joey Walch, Riley Walch, Elizabeth Maroon, Gavin Maroon, and Bristol; 3 brothers: Doug Brinkley (wife Violet) of Enid, Oklahoma, Kent Brinkley (wife Donna) of Flora, and Sam Brinkley of Riverside, California; 2 sisters: Janet Bricker of Flora and Maureen Tolliver (husband Alan) of Flora; sisters-in-law: Lina Cricelli of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Vicky Cricelli Milner (husband Dale) of Xenia; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Jim and Wanda Brinkley; twin sister: Glenda Brinkley; brother: Larry Brinkley; brother-in-law: Roy Bricker; sister-in-law: Martha Brinkley; niece: Elizabeth Brinkley; and father-and-mother-in-law: Dominic and Mary Ann Cricelli.
A funeral ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery, Flora. A visitation will be held from 5:30 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested to the Highland Middle School (HMS) and Highland High School (HHS) Athletic Boosters, or any favorite charity of the donor’s choice, and these will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com
Aug 29, 1936 - Dec 21, 2024
Jul 16, 1935 - Dec 18, 2024
Jan 27, 1930 - Dec 17, 2024
Dec 25, 1988 - Dec 14, 2024
Jun 5, 1937 - Dec 5, 2024
We're so very sorry. Glad we got to see her at the reunion. Our prayers are with the entire family.
Maureen and Family: We are so sorry for the tragic loss of your sister. We are keeping the Brinkley and Cricelli families in our prayers.
Doug, Your classmates from near and far send condolences at the passing of your sister.
Frank and family, my deepest sympathy to you at the passing of your precious loved one. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kent & family, Maureen & family, Doug & family; I was so sorry to hear of Dianna's passing. My condolences, thoughts, and prayers are with you all.
We are so sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in this time with the "GOOD LORD." You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Sorry for the whole family.
I am so saddened to here of Dianna's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
So sorry for your loss. May God be with the family on this heart breaking occasion
We are so sorry that you all have lost your wife, mom, sister and aunt. For us, she was a sweet cousin. We love you all, and are praying for each of you. May God be with you all and comfort you at this time of your sorrow.❤️
Oh dear... I just heard in the teacher's lounge at Highland High School. Dianne worked in the district office and all the teachers went on and on how sharp she was with their insurance, etc... quick and efficient... and oh so nice! And, she was! Always had a smile on her face anytime I saw her around town. Heaven got another Angel for sure. Prayers for peace and comfort for the families.
My deepest condolences to you and your family.
My condolences to the families 🙏
You will be missed by so many. Prayers for the family.
Prayers of comfort for the families.
Our deepest sympathies to Dianna’s family. Dianna was a special woman with a heart bigger than this world. She has been one of the most giving people I’ve ever known. I can still hear the stories from Aaron as he and the boys would cause trouble together when they lived near each other as kids, and Aaron noting how Dianna was like a second mother to him growing up. Then fast forward to hearing the same loving stories from my nephews who think of Dianna as another grandma, always looking forward to her Christmas parties. It makes my heart heavy at the thought of all those people who loved her now without her and the joy she brought to all of them. May she continue to watch over all of us from God’s heavenly kingdom. I pray that all who knew her will honor her by spreading the generosity and love that she shared everyone she met.
I am so sad to hear of your loss. What a lovely person Dianna was. I'm so happy we were able to visit with each other at our class reunion.
My heart goes out to all of Dianna's friends and family, of which she was fortunate to have so many. She was well loved and she loved well. She will be sorely missed. I pray our Lord will comfort all who hurt by her loss and we know that now she is with the family members who have gone on before her. Prayers for all.
So sorry for your loss. Keeping everyone in my Prayers
This is heartbreaking and we are so very sorry for your family's loss.
Sorry for your loss, thoughts and prayers for you
Sending my deepest condolences to all of the family. My prayers and thoughts are with you in this special time. Dianna was cherished by her family and friends and her life provided such a wonderful testimony to all that were privileged to have known her.
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May God bring you peace and comfort throughout the coming days.
I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Prayers for you Frank and family. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
We are very sorry for Dianna. We send you a big hug from Caulonia. Condolences from all the Mirigliano-Cricelli cousins
So sad to hear of Dianna’s passing. I enjoyed a visit with her at our 50th FTHS Class Reunion in October. All of her family are in my heart during this sad time. Rest in Peace Dianna 🕊️
I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you in my prayers. Love you all.
As a fellow cruiser, my heart goes out to all the family. It was a horrible day there
We did not know her, but was there that day, our hearts and prayers go out to all of her family and friends ❤️
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
Frank, Nick, Nate and the Cricelli/Brinkley family, There are no words. We are just heartsick at the news of the loss of this beautiful human angel that God put in each of our lives. Dianna was one of the most generous people we have ever known. She was not only generous but kind, humble, honest, caring, loving and so much more. She was not only our cousin but our friend. She touched many, many lives and will be missed by so many. Again, there are no words! Please know that we were all very blessed to have had this beautiful woman in our lives. We hope you find comfort in knowing she is now watching over you from heaven. Hugs! Carla and Dennis
So sorry for the loss of such a wonderful person. I will be forever grateful we were able to visit with my cousin Dianne and her husband Frank at Easter. Our thoughts and prayers to family and friends.
Frank, Dom and Nate, so very sorry for your loss. Dianna was a special person. She lived each day to serve others whether it was while she was working for the school district, planning celebrations for family and friends or just being a wonderful, caring grandmother. She will be missed by us all. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Frank & Family, We had the pleasure of working with Dianna at the Highland School District. She was such a pleasant and helpful person to everyone she met or spoke with. We truly enjoyed having conversations with her. She will be missed. Our deepest sympathies to you and your family. We will not be able to make the visitation or funeral but know that we are thinking of you all and praying that God will be your comfort and strength in this time of grieving.
We did not know of Dianna. But we and hundreds of others were in close proximity to what happened that morning. As we all prepared to start a fun day, God turned the page and needed her to make Heaven a better place. Our hearts go out to you and your family.
You all have our deepest sympathy!! We are praying for you all. May God comfort you!!
Please know you are all in my prayers. I’m praying for God to give you comfort and understanding. I love you guys and wish I had been able to be there - I am in spirit and in mourning with you.
We were fellow cruisers with your parents. We are from PA. Your wife, mother, grandmother, sister, loved one, sounds like she was a truly exceptional woman. You don’t know us but, please know that our thoughts and prayers have been with you all since that day. We wish you and your family peace and comfort as you grieve this great loss. May she rest in eternal peace.
Dominic and Family, I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of your mother. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. May cherished memories bring you comfort and peace in days ahead.
Frank & Bright Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
500 North Main Street
Flora, Illinois 62839
Phone : (618) 662-2141
Fax: (618) 662-4600
Email: [email protected]
