2015

HOLDEN, Mass.— Diane D. (Dow) Deane, 73, of Holden, Mass., passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side, on Sunday, March 22, at Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after an illness.

Born and raised in Livermore Falls, Diane was the daughter of Charles and Irene (Loon) Dow and lived 38 years in Holden.

Diane graduated from Livermore Falls High School, attended Central Maine General Hospital School of Nursing and became a licensed practical nurse.

In 1967, Diane married the love of her life, James Deane, and lived in Rumford for several years before moving to Holden in 1977, where they raised their two children.

Most of Diane’s nursing career was spent at Holden Nursing Home, where she worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift for 29 years, retiring in 2007. She was a member of St. Mary’s Church in Jefferson and the Holden Garden Club.

They say that “true Mainers venture out, but never leave.” Something about Maine always drew her back. Every year, Diane and her family would spend several weeks in the summer vacationing at one of Maine’s many lakes, which included her favorite, Maranacook Lake in Kennebec County.

She also enjoyed spending time in her backyard in Holden, watching birds and tending to her garden. Other interests included crafts, sewing and reading.

Diane rarely missed gathering with her friends on Friday afternoons at various local restaurants for their weekly roundup of current events or catching up on their children’s latest social activities. She was proud of her children and will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

She leaves her beloved husband of 48 years, James S. Deane; her two children, Alan S. Deane and his wife, Jennifer, of Westborough, Mass., and Andrea D. Young and her husband, Michael, of Shrewsbury, Mass.; a sister, Suzanne Austin and her partner, Glenn Ikemoto, of Brunswick and Lihue, Hawaii; six grandchildren, Charles, Anna and Christopher Deane, and Emily, Allyson and Avery Young; a cousin, Irene Smith and her husband, Ian, of Wayne, Pa.; and several nephews and nieces.

To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com.