The House of Hope has lost its leader, founder, and director.

But it has not lost her vision, mission, and love.

Dianne Sherman passed away last Monday at the age of 68. She had been the driving force behind the House of Hope of Warren County.

“I have never met a person with a more generous heart,” House of Hope Board Member Lisa Thompson said. “She looked past people’s appearance, addictions, and behaviors, and saw who they really were. She would see their heart.”

“Dianne was a respected and beloved counselor who helped countless girls and women address struggles in their lives,” original House of Hope Board Member Gary Lester said.

Sherman helped people, particularly women and children, through her work at the Department of Human Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and jail ministry through Praise! Fellowship.

While working with women in Warren County jail, she recognized a need. She had a vision of a place where those women, who had been experiencing “a revolving door of relapse and re-incarceration” could go after their release and be in “a safe and supportive residential setting,” Grace Zerbe Wright, who joined Sherman in a planning group that led to the House of Hope, said.

“She did jail ministry out of Praise! Fellowship and as she worked with girls in the jail, she realized the need for a place where the women could transition to ‘real life’,” original House of Hope Board Member Gary Lester said.

“To everyone else, it seemed impossible, but she was convinced it could happen,” the Rev. Rick Rohlin, pastor of Praise! Fellowship and an original House of Hope board member, said.

House of Hope opened in 2014.

“Dianne’s love and compassion for women struggling with addictions, as well as her firm belief in their potential led to the genesis of the House of Hope,” Wright said. “In Dianne’s perspective, all of this is possible through an experience of Christian love and forgiveness. She loved watching women rebuild their lives.”

“She believed passionately in a loving, redeeming God who could heal people and relationships,” Board Member Donna Adelgren said. “”She also believed passionately in the value and worth of each person.”

“I never heard Dianne ever discount someone, ever think someone was past redemption,” Thompson said. “If a person had gone back to jail or started using again it broke her heart. She was a defender of many people that society threw away. She truly taught us all how to love.”

“Her ability to forgive, forget, and look to a bright future are positive influences that we should all strive to carry forward,” Board Treasurer Mike DelPrince said.

“She is truly a visionary who was driven by a passion to share the life changing love of God with young ladies,” Rohlin said. “She saw hundreds of lives transformed by the power of God through the arms of people.”

“Working with Dianne I saw her love, compassion, and empathy for the ladies of the house,” Program Assistant Ruth Angert said. “It’s been my honor to work with Dianne, my friend.”

Kenndal Russell was in jail when she first met Sherman.

“She was my inspiration, my joy and my light,” Kenndal Russell said. “She loved me even when I could not love myself. She showed me that even though you slip and fall in life that you are never a castaway, unloved or forgotten because the Father never turns away from you.”

“The House of Hope for me has been my saving grace,” Russell said. “It taught me how to be a respectable young lady and a functioning member of society.”

“To see the fruits of Dianne’s vision played out daily in the girls is amazing,” Volunteer Gert Yaple said.

“I’ve had the very great privilege of seeing light return to eyes darkened by abuse, pain, and destructive choices,” Adelgren said. “I’ve seen hope restored when it seemed there was none left.”

“Dianne Sherman touched and helped so many people, but what is also exciting is she has helped change children’s lives who have not even been born yet,” Thompson said. “By helping one woman find her faith and sobriety, she forever changes that women’s child’s life, and that child’s child’s life for generations. What an amazing legacy. What an honor it was for me to know her.”

“She knew that progress includes many setbacks,” Wright said. “Her loving encouragement helped many to overcome despair and find renewed hope to go forward.”

The House of Hope will go forward. Sherman’s vision and guidance remain and the House will continue to follow the path she set for it.

“Dianne carefully choose people who understood her mission and passion to work along side of her as we established the House of Hope,” Thompson said. “These same people are dedicated to continuing her mission, and our mission, to provide safe place for women to transition back into the community.”

“The House of Hope Board remains a ‘working Board,’ closely involved in both administrative and operational aspects of House of Hope,” Wright said. “The board had made plans last year to add a program assistant in residence to share the day-to-day duties with Dianne. Also, one of our experienced program volunteers is now in residence at House of Hope providing additional on-site coverage.”

“House of Hope is fully operational, including accepting new residents,” she said.

“The House of Hope serves a critical need in our community and it will continue in her honor,” Thompson said.

“Dianne has been and forever will be the beating heart of the House of Hope,” Russell said.