Erleen Didier

On March 12, 2012, the community of Lancaster, and the greater Antelope Valley,
said goodbye to a member of “our greatest generation.”  She passed peacefully
and now resides in the hearts and minds of her family and the people that she
touched throughout her life.
Mrs. Didier was born Erleen Wahlrab in November 6, 1919 at Good Samaritan
Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.  She was the third child of what would become an
adventurous and outgoing family of eight.  Being constantly on the move is a
trait that would resonate throughout her entire life and would pass on to her
family.  There was just no sitting on the sideline for Mrs. Didier.  Growing up
she was constantly racing bicycles, swimming, ice skating, playing tennis, and
even playing football with the boys.  Because of this, she earned the nicknames
of “Racehorse,” “ Blackie,” and “Eenie 3000,” by her friends.  Despite being a
“Tom Boy,” she still maintained her feminine edge by staying up on the latest
fashion.  She was an “A” student and was the perfect example of the Palmer
writing method.
After WWII, she married Private Cletus Didier in February 10, 1945 to become
Mrs. Erleen Didier and start a family based on faith and love.  They moved their
family of three children from Dayton in 1948 to Lancaster, CA.  There, the
family would grow to eight children.  Mr. Didier worked as an electrical
engineer at Edwards AFB and Mrs. Didier raised their children to be athletic,
adventurous and dedicated to their spiritual community.  To this day, the
Didier’s are active members of the Sacred Heart Parish.   They sent their
children and grandchildren to Sacred Heart,Bishop Alemany HIgh School and
Paraclete High School - a school they were instramental in getting established and where Clete taught and coached.
Even in her early 90’s, Mrs. Didier maintained a balanced life of fun and
service.  Playing pinochle with friends, working on jigsaw puzzles, performing
in family skits, administering Eucharist at Mass and to the sick, acting as an
honorary Italian at ICF (ITALIAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION), counting money at Sacred
Heart Parish, telling stories to anyone who will listen, finding the best local
bargains, cutting out cute pictures, jokes, and recipes to distribute to family
and friends.
Mrs. Didier is survived by her eight children: Mary, Joe, Katie, Pat, Ruth,
Annie, Clete and MickIE, 20 grandchildren and six great grandchildren that will
miss her dearly.  Mrs. Didier is reunited with her husband, Clete, who passed in
June 1992.  Despite her passing, her expression of love, selfless giving,
optimism, resourcefulness, and rock-solid faith, lives with, and continues to
serve as her family’s best example.
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