Diane I. Lynch

Diane Lynch (née Yatko) passed away on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Virtua Voorhees Hospital, after a brief, but valiant, battle with cancer.

Born November 22, 1958, in Nanticoke, PA, Diane was the daughter of the late Robert and Irene (Makarczyk) Yatko. She was a graduate of Greater Nanticoke Area, class of 1976, and graduated from Wilkes University with degrees in sociology and psychology. Her forty-year career as a social worker led her to enriching the lives of others at Step by Step (Wilkes-Barre, PA), St. Agnes Medical Center (Philadelphia), Care One (Marlton), Brandywine Senior Living at Moorestown Estates (Moorestown), Virtua Health Systems (Marlton), and St. Mary’s Center (Cherry Hill) where she worked until the time of her death.

A natural empath, Diane felt comfortable in the emotional duality of life. If she wasn’t laughing infectiously, she was crying – at movies, inspirational stories on America’s Got Talent, or even sad songs. Her family had an ongoing bet at how long it would take her to tear up about something. On the other hand, she was also the first person to laugh so hard you would find tears rolling down her face. She was a light that drew other people in. Countless times, you would find Diane striking up a conversation with a stranger, only for her to hear their entire life story by the time the conversation ended.

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knew and loved Diane that her favorite song was “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang. She lived each moment of life soaking in the joy – whether it was nights out with her “Brandywine girls” and her “Virtua ladies” (always enjoying her signature Cosmo) or attending the Phanatic’s birthday game with her family each spring. She loved attending concerts with her husband, especially those for R&B and Motown artists, and when home (which wasn’t all too often, as she could never be described as a homebody), she loved watching the Phillies, Sixers, NFL Sunday games, Saturday college games, etc. A sports enthusiast, she could hold her own with any fan!

She and her beloved husband, Ed, traveled to Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, Niagara Falls, Maine, New Orleans, and San Diego but her favorite location was always Atlantic City. She often stayed up much later than people half her age, always waiting to “hit big” on her Hot Penny slot machines. She knew all the staff by name and would remember specifics of their lives, just as she did with everyone she encountered. While the elusive jackpot in AC never happened, Diane would be the first person to tell you she was the luckiest to have so many wonderful people in her life, especially those who reached out continually in her final weeks.

Her legacy will surely be one of generosity – both of money and of time. She over-tipped everywhere she went and couldn’t pass a Salvation Army bell ringer at Christmas without slipping a donation in. She also understood how important time together was. We will forever miss the traditions we had with Tootie – the egg dying competition each Easter, the dinners at the shore each September, the Christmas trivia game where she would never get a single question right about Christmas movies, and the birthday celebrations we had throughout the year. Nevertheless, we are eternally grateful to the universe for giving us these memories. Her approach to life, with generosity and gratitude, will be a North Star for us the rest of our days.

Diane is survived by the love of her life, her husband of 33 years, (Henry) Ed. There are not adequate words to describe the strength of their love and partnership. As Luther Vandross sang in their wedding song, “Your love is all I’ll ever need.” She is also survived by her stepchildren: Justin (Lydia) and their children, Henry, Jordan, and Taylor (Sewell), Vicky (Rob) (Chicago), and Tracy and her children Nick, Melissa, and Heather (Hammond, IN); her brothers-in-law: Lawrence, Lambert, and Leslie (Mt Vernon, NY); her sister in-law, Dianne (Chicago); her family in North Carolina, Robert and Val Yatko, as well as their children and their families: Rob (Adair), Cathy (Jay), and Lauren (Alan); and her niece, Stefanie (Jason) Crouse (Wescosville, PA). She also leaves behind her beloved great-niece, Amelia, for whom Aunt Tootie, as we affectionately called her, would attend all-day dance recitals and competitions without a single complaint. Everyone should be as lucky as we were to have a Tootie in our lives.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents as well as her stepdaughter, Patty Lynch, her sister-in-law, Yvonne Lynch, and her sister, Denise Yatko.

Friends may visit from 5 PM to 7 PM on Friday, September 22 at the Leroy P. Wooster Funeral Home (441 White Horse Pike, Atco). A celebration of life service will take place at 7 PM. All are welcome to join and participate.

In lieu of flowers, donations made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research hospital. If you do not have the means to donate, please find ways to be generous of your time with loved ones – show up, lean in, and be present for the big and small moments. Remember the small details of someone else’s life and ask them about them. In the end, these threads of lives touched create the beautiful tapestry of our own story.