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Friends and family raise a glass to Chris Diez at Corks for a Cure Wine Tasting
Wendy Diez of Edison Park (second from left) hosted Corks for a Cure in memory of her late husband, Chris, who succumbed to a brain tumor in 2009. Pictured with: Tom Diez, Chris's brother, of Des Plaines; Donna Doyle, Wendy’s mother, of Edison Park;) Phyllis Diez, Chris's mom, of Park Ridge; and Vickie Diez, Chris's sister, of Des Plaines. | Natasha Wasinski~For Sun-Times Media
EVENT: Corks for a Cure Wine Tasting
BENEFITING: American Brain Tumor Association
DATE:: May 4, 2012
LOCATION: Park Ridge Country Club
ATTENDED: 130
RAISED: $6,000
Article Extras
Updated: July 22, 2012 3:36PM
Family, neighbors and friends, old and new, raised a glass at the Park Ridge Country Club on May 4 to a modern-day Renaissance man who lived life to the fullest.
Wendy Diez of Edison Park organized Corks for A Cure in memory of her late husband, Chris, who succumbed to a brain tumor in January 2009.
His untimely death at 48 years old left Wendy to care for their then 17-month-old son and 10-day-old daughter, though a strong network of support ensured they would never feel alone.
And Wendy sprung into action. She began volunteering with the American Brain Tumor Association and co-founded the Chicagoland Young Widowed Connection.
Active grieving is her way of honoring the man who, she said, “never slowed down.”
“I experienced more things in my life with Chris than I had ever done before,” Wendy said. “He completely lived life.”
An avid reader, Chris was the circulation manager at Evanston Public Library. He gardened, enjoyed bike riding, and had traveled to Europe dozens of times before marrying.
When he did, Wendy became part of his daily adventures. They traveled to Italy on a surprise honeymoon trip he had planned. The couple held season tickets to the opera and symphony.
They had met at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, where Chris served as choir director. To honor that special memory, Wendy organized a choral event on the first anniversary of his death that attracted 600 guests and raised $10,000.
Chris’ other passion, wine, was the theme of Wendy’s most recent fundraiser in his honor, which she plans to host on a bi-annual basis.
“My passion and strengths lie in doing something like this,” she said. “It’s my labor of love.”
