Donna L. Diller
Donna L. Diller, 91, of Onaway, died at The Brook of Rogers City Friday, July 19, 2024. She was one of 14 children born to the late John and Alice (Allaire) Dunn. Donna was born in Onaway May 17, 1933. As a teenager, she met the very handsome Joseph “Joe” Miller of Ocqueoc. Quite smitten with each other, they married August 18, 1949, at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia before Joe was deployed to Korea. They made their home in Ocqueoc where they raised a family and were blessed with 32 years of marriage. After Joe’s untimely death, Lyle Diller came into Donna’s life. They were married at the United Methodist Church in Onaway July 31, 1982, and had 38 years together at the time of Lyle’s death in 2020.
A lifelong resident of Onaway, Donna was a familiar face in the community. She worked as a clerk at the B & C Market and at Marianne’s Clothing Store, as well as being a homemaker, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Donna had a long and full life, defined by the love for her family. She was proud to be from the very large Dunn clan and was close with all her brothers and sisters. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who lovingly called her “GiGi.” They kept her very busy with their sporting and school events. Donna traveled the state far and wide to watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play their various sports, rarely missing a contest. She was always there to cheer them on and support the Onaway Cardinals. She was a longtime member and supporter of Onaway Sports Boosters.
Donna loved finding treasures at flea markets and garage sales as well as hosting her own garage sales. She had quite an assortment of trinkets and what-nots collected from thrifting, which she often gave to her family as gifts. She especially loved any battery-operated novelty item that played music and danced; singing fish, dancing daisies, and yodeling pickles are a few that come to mind! An avid bingo player, Donna and her bingo partner, the late Vivian Sobeck, knew every bingo hall in northern Michigan. After moving to The Brook in Rogers City, she became a regular for bingo there and was generous to share her bingo prizes with her family.
Beside her family, Donna’s other great love was for God. She was devoted to her Catholic faith, prayed the rosary faithfully, and was a longtime parishioner of St. Paul Catholic Church. She relied on her faith to help her through the hardest times during her life. With her vibrant personality and love for fun, Donna was instrumental in starting the Onaway Chapter of the Red Hat Society. She and her group of lady friends, adorned with their red hats and purple clothing, met for lunch once a month. Donna organized bus trips for the group to the Holland Tulip Festival, Shipshewana, and area casinos. For many years, Donna and Lyle enjoyed spending winters in Ocala, Florida to escape the cold and gray of northern Michigan winters. They also made a very memorable trip to Rome where they visited the Vatican and toured many beautiful churches.
Donna was a beautiful lady who dressed fashionably and loved to have her hair, nails, and makeup done. She especially looked forward to her standing date each Thursday when her great-granddaughter, Calley, came to pamper her with a manicure and fresh hairstyle. She was a bit of a spitfire with her sassy personality. Blessed with the gift of gab, she was social, friendly, and talked to anyone and everyone. She put others before herself, was always concerned for her family and friends, and was very generous. She leaves her children; daughter, Colleen (Jeff) Whitsitt of Millersburg and sons, Joseph (Heather) Miller of Alaska and Dan (Denise) Miller of Rogers City; Lyle’s sons, Greg (Mary) Diller of Onaway and Robert Diller of Richmond; as well as her grandchildren, Brian (Amy) Whitsitt, Tricia (Tom) Selke, Joseph (Amy) Miller, Lucas (Kimberly) Miller, Loralee (Grant) Mativity, Logan (Dana) Miller, Katie (Brett) Gleason, Jay (Dollie) Diller and Marty (Laura) Diller; 19 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The last of her generation, she was preceded in death by brothers, Jim, Harold “Bud,” Arnold, Richard an
Visitation will be held at Chagnon Funeral Home Friday, July 26, from 4 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. when the rosary service will begin. Donna’s funeral will be at St. Paul Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27, followed by burial at Ocqueoc Township Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy please consider a donation in memory of Donna to the Onaway Sports Boosters or the Rogers City Civic League.
