Falls Village – Diana was to many nothing short of an angel in life. Her loving guidance of her children and grandchildren, and her devotion to her friends and the Falls Village community were her life’s pleasures. She passed due to complications from pneumonia on Thursday, January 28th at St. Mary’s hospital in Waterbury.
Diana was born on August 22nd, 1949 in Saint Agatha, Maine to Ivan and Sylvia Paradis. Soon after, her family moved to Southington, CT. She attended Southington High School, where she was co-captain of the cheerleading squad, secretary of the National Honor Society, and prom queen. She went on to attend Central Connecticut State College, to major in mathematics and minor in reading, and to earn her teaching cerification, with which she taught math at Southington High School from 1971 to 1977 when she left the classroom to raise her family.
In 1987 Diana moved to Falls Village, where she became involved in her community’s Ladies Auxilliary, scholarship committee, and over time held various posts of responsibility with the Friends of D.M. Hunt library. Her passion was working with children, and she was able to channel that joy as children’s librarian at the library. For years her morning story hours were cherished by Falls Village families. Her work earned her a Association of Connecticut Library Boards citation for outstanding contribution to library development , and her great reward was knowing that the children of Falls Village carry within them joyful stories.
Diana’s children and grandchildren cherished her love and attention, and will always trust in the lessons she shared with them, made living by her rendition of baritone bears and squeaky-pitched mice, or like many others around her knew—through just the right advice at just the right time. She will also be remembered by her extensive family as a devoted wife, sister, aunt, daughter, and confidant at the office. She was “silk” on the slopes, and a steady doubles partner on the tennis court.
Diana suffered a lifelong lung condition with poise, and with faith in the Lord. She found strength and meaning in the encouragement of family and friends, and in the beauty that surrounded her home. She loved her garden, butterflies, and angels.
Diana is survived by her husband Robert, her son Daniel, daughter-in-law Anna, and grandchildren Elliot and Astrid. She is also survived by her mother Sylvia Paradis of Morris, her father and mother-in-law William and Martha Blair of Waterbury, her brothers Robert, James, and Kenneth Paradis, and her sisters Evelyn Paradis and Gloria Colonero and many in-laws, adored neices and nephews, aunts and uncles and dear friends. She is predeceased by her father, Ivan Paradis, and her daughter, Denise, who we pray has welcomed her mother into heaven, and is eager to catch up on a lifetime of stories.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 18th at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North Canaan, CT. www.kennyfuneralhomes.com.