Dianne Marion Wilder-Sarusal passed away on May 30, 2017. She died in peace at Evergreen Hospice after a long struggle with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Dianne was born December 22, 1942, in Boston, MA, to Israel and Ida Yanoff. She attended Boston’s Girls’ Latin School, where she was an exemplary student. She married Noel Wilder and in 1969 they moved to South Seattle with their two oldest children. Dianne and Noel moved to Kirkland, WA, in 1970, where their youngest daughter was born.
Dianne went on to graduate from Bellevue CC and the University of Washington, where she earned her Master of Social Work. She started her career in healthcare at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland. Her career in social work expanded to several Seattle-area hospitals including Group Health Eastside, UW Medical Center, Swedish Seattle and THC Seattle, with a short time in private practice. Dianne was a compassionate and caring professional who helped her many patients through very difficult times.
In 1977 she met her life-partner Dan Sarusal, Jr., and in 1986 they moved to their current home in Woodinville, WA. She was a talented gardener and excellent cook and took great joy at hosting family and friends in her home. She was also an avid shopper who loved to purchase gifts for family, friends and other special people who touched her life.
Dianne is survived by her partner Dan; daughter Pamela Wilder, partner Doug Beck and sons Brandon and Evan Winslow; son Jonathan Wilder, wife Debbie and daughters Amber and Kayla; daughter Camille Wilder, partner Kevin Leuning and his son Joshua, and her sons Tyler and Trevor Cease; and two great-grandchildren, Owen and Abbey Winslow.
Dianne also had a great love for her cats Lily, Mitty and Big Boy. Her devoted cat Lily never left her side during most of her home care, and Lily’s recent passing was a very significant event for Dianne.
Her daughter Pam, along with hired caregiver Pamla Walls, kept her comfortable at home since 2015. The family would also like to mention and thank her close friend Carole O’Brien, who worked with Dianne at Evergreen and generously helped with Dianne’s care and support at home, and long-time friend Mary Boyd, who has always given support to Dianne’s family and was there by her side at the end.
A graveside service for family members and close friends will be held at Floral Hills Cemetery at 409 Filbert Road in Lynnwood on Saturday, June 17, at 10:30 a.m. A Celebration of Life will be held following the service at the Seattle Marriott Redmond at 7401 – 164th Ave NE in Redmond Town Center at 12:30 p.m. All friends of the family are welcome to attend.
Dianne’s siblings, Gloria Wolpert and Carl Yanoff, preceded her in death and also died of complications related to PKD, an incurable disease that two of her children, one of her grandchildren and a nephew have been diagnosed with as well. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dianne’s name to the PKD Foundation at 1001 E. 101st Terrace, Suite 220, Kansas City, MO, 64131. You can also call in your donation to 1-800-753-2873 or give an online gift at pkdcure.org. Your gift is greatly appreciated to support the family as well as help find a cure.