Edward Diamond Obituary

Edward L Diamond peacefully passed away on January 9, 2025, surrounded by family at Northwest Community Hospital. Ed was born on December 4, 1937, to the late Edward and Agnes (Mulkern) Diamond in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ed's childhood was an idyllic Irish-Catholic upbringing in St. Paul where he served Mass, delivered newspapers from his bike in all weather, and was part of a loving circle of family and friends. He attended St. Luke's elementary school (now St. Thomas More) and then St. Thomas Military Academy for high school. He spent his high school summers riding the train from St. Paul to work at Glacier National Park in Montana - one of the many casually-mentioned amazing facts about his life that always surprised his children, and later his grandchildren.
Ed also attended St. Thomas University, but took a long break before completing his degree as an adult at Elmhurst College. He served in the US Army Reserve in the Medical Service Corps, spending time at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. He was grateful for his military service which built upon his experience at St. Thomas and later helped him get hired at Johnson and Johnson where he worked early in his career.
Ed was preceded in death in 2005 by the love of his life, Mary Lea (née Fahrendorf) who he married in Sioux Falls, SD on May 4, 1963. In 1970, they moved from St. Paul to Palatine, IL, where they raised three sons, giving them unending love, structure, and encouragement. They were active members at both St. Thomas of Villanova and St. Theresa parishes over the years. Faced with tragically early widowhood during the last twenty years of his life, Dad remained the strong center of the family, conducting himself with grace and dignity while living alone.
Ed eventually became a marketing director in the food service management industry, a career that often had him traveling to meet with hospitals and school systems across the country. Later, he ran his own small food service business. A business relationship he established with the Scottish Home (Caledonia Senior Living) during those years evolved into a long-term bond with the Illinois Saint Andrews Society, where he tapped into a sense of purpose in delivering on the Society's mission, served on the board for many years, and forged deeply personal relationships.
Like his own father - who was an immigrant from Northern Ireland - Ed lived his life with great cheer and was great at telling stories and making people smile. Everyone who met Ed liked him, everyone who knew him respected him, and everyone who loved him will miss him dearly.
Ed is survived by his sons Michael (Connie), Patrick (Kathy), and Scott (Amy); his grandchildren Erin (Grant) Helgeson, Andrea (Stephen Umhoefer), Claire, James, Jack (Bo), Thomas (Riley), Colin, Brooke, and Kelly; two new great grandbabies Luke Edward Diamond and Brynn Isla Helgeson; and a great many beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary Lea; his parents Ed and Agnes; his sister Mary and his brother Jim.
A visitation will be held at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy., Palatine, on both January 17th from 5pm-8pm and January 18th 8:30am-9:30am. A funeral Mass to celebrate Ed's life will take place on Saturday, January 18th, at 10:00am, at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Palatine. Ed will be laid to rest at St. Michael's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Chicago Scots/Illinois Saint Andrew Society. For info, 847-359-8020.
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