Thomasville, Pa. — Dianne Schildt, 70, a York County resident known for her work in education, her devotion to animals and a knack for bringing family together at the table, died on Aug. 3 after battling cancer.
Born Dianne Jean Moleskie on Oct. 1, 1955, in Pottsville, she grew up in York and graduated from York Suburban High School before attending Lynchburg College. Her life, marked by small, steady commitments, stitched together careers in state government, manufacturing and school support services.
From Harrisburg to the classroom
Schildt’s early career included work at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. She later joined BMY, a defense contractor that evolved into United Defense and ultimately BAE Systems. Those roles were followed by years spent in schools, where colleagues and families would later recall her patient, practical presence.
In the school system, she worked at North Hills Elementary School and with the Lincoln Intermediate Unit, offering support to the guidance counselor departments at York Catholic High School and Delone Catholic High School. Her professional life centered on helping students and staff navigate the everyday — a quieter kind of service with heavy local impact.
Family life and homemaking craft
Dianne married Larry Schildt in 1985; the couple marked 41 years of marriage this summer. She is survived by her husband; their daughter Amanda and son-in-law Dave Rudolph and their daughters Emilia and Elle; and their son David Schildt and his daughter Renee.
| Immediate family | Status |
|---|---|
| Husband | Larry Schildt |
| Daughter | Amanda (married to Dave Rudolph); daughters Emilia and Elle |
| Son | David Schildt; daughter Renee |
Those who knew her remember a woman who took domestic crafts seriously: an “extraordinary cook and baker,” according to family accounts, whose chicken divan and a birthday staple dubbed the black magic cake were family favorites. She sewed Halloween costumes for her children by hand for years, a small labor of love that left a lasting imprint on childhood memories.
Horses, rescue work and a steadfast companion
Schildt’s fondness for horses ran through her life. She often joked that her first mount enjoyed better accommodations than she did in her small apartment in her early 20s. In the past decade she devoted more time to that passion, volunteering with the ASPCA Equine Program and spending long, easy days with friends at the barn.
Her animals were central to her final years. She is survived by two horses, Piper and Lily, and by her dog Teddi, who remained a constant comfort during treatment and in her final days.
Community ties and quiet service
Schildt’s trajectory — statehouse work, manufacturing, school support and volunteer hours with animals — reads like the arc of many who build community through steady, practical help rather than headlines. Her smile, her willingness to feed or mend or advise, and the recipes people asked her to make again and again grounded her in the lives she touched.
Local readers will recognize the institutions and places that marked her life: York Suburban High School, North Hills Elementary, Lincoln Intermediate Unit, York Catholic and Delone Catholic high schools. Her work supported counselors and students in settings where stability and compassion often make the difference between a good day and a hard one.
Services and remembrances
- Survived by her husband Larry; daughter Amanda and her family; son David and his daughter.
- Volunteered with the ASPCA Equine Program; longtime involvement in local schools and community.
- Known for sewing, baking and a warm presence among family and barn friends.
The family has not released full funeral or visitation details. Those who wish to offer condolences are encouraged to reach out through local funeral homes or family contacts.
She leaves behind simple legacies: recipes requested for birthdays, hand-sewn costumes tucked into boxes of photos, and the sight of horses grazing at ease — small, durable traces of a life spent close to home and to the people and animals who mattered most.
Marquis Freeman, NEXO RADAR.
