Diane Collier Duell
July 6, 1955 ~ June 24, 2020
Memories of Diane Collier Duell
We shared a final pot of tea with Diane during the morning of June 24, 2020. She passed away, with her family by her side, after a more than 4-1/2 year battle with Ovarian Cancer.
Diane was born in 1955 in South Wales in the United Kingdom. After her marriage in 1984, Diane lived in Colombia in South America; Louisiana, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas and Vermont in the USA; and England and Scotland in the UK. Although she lived outside of Wales for the majority of her married life, she has always maintained close contacts in Wales with her family, lovingly sharing her Welsh heritage, family and mountains of her home town with her husband Michael, and twin daughters, Rebecca and Christina, via frequent visits and extended stays. Over the years, she did a fantastic job instilling her Welsh culture and values into the values of her children and husband.
Diane graduated as a Registered Nurse from nursing school in the UK, attended Louisiana State University and University of St. Francis in the USA where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, and earned a certification for teaching English to speakers of other languages from Cambridge University in England. She proudly held a UK nursing license, as well as US nursing licenses from Louisiana, New Jersey and Virginia. Her nursing career was quite varied, including working in several hospitals in Wales, England, and Louisiana, as a school nurse in England and New Jersey, and at several Urgent Care centers in Virginia. Over the years Diane also worked as a volunteer in nursing, teaching English as a Second Language, and as a Girl Scout leader in various communities. She was pleased to be able to fit her career around supporting their daughters through many family moves.
Uplifting joys of Diane’s life included:
i. Finding excitement and joy in friends, places, and experiences
ii. Spending time with her children, family and extended family
iii. Visiting her family members and friends in the many places that they live
iv. Travel
v. Long walks on the beach
vi. Reading
vii. Maintaining contact with family and culture in Wales, including countless visits
viii. Walks on the mountains surrounding her childhood home in Wales
ix. Walks in nature with her husband
x. Spending time with friends – they have provided much support and comfort for Diane as she bravely fought against this disease
xi. Sewing
xii. Hiking
xiii. Current affairs and politics
xiv. Curling up by a nice fire, on a wintry day, with a good book or movie, and her husband
xv. Walks in a drizzle or light rain in cool weather with her husband
Diane leaves behind a husband, Michael; two daughters in Vermont, Rebecca (Matt) and Christina (Jim); and a grand-daughter, Vera. In Wales, her immediate survivors include her mother Vera, along with three brothers, Russell, Barrie (Julia), and Ceri (Rhiannon); two nieces, Ani and Eithne, and her nephew Ioan; several uncles and aunts, and many cousins. Her father, Adrian, pre-deceased her.
Diane was an intelligent woman, who cared deeply about others, and was just such lovely and easy company to be with. Her insightful perspectives, lovely smile, and console will be sorely missed, particularly by her husband of almost 36 years, and our two children. Throughout our lives together, Diane has been our family’s straight edge. Words cannot convey what a great adventurous companion and rock of support to our family that Diane has been.
Due to COVID, we will only have a small memorial service for immediate family and close friends at this time. When the risk of COVID decreases to an acceptable level, we intend to have a larger memorial service for Diane in both Virginia and in Wales.
In lieu of flowers, Diane has requested that donations instead be sent to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, PO Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240 with ‘Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy Research Fund/Diane Duell Tribute’ in the memo of the check, or on an accompanying note. If you would like to donate online, please go to the Roswell Park donation website, select ‘Most pressing needs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’, tick the box ‘Yes, this is an honor or memorial gift’, put in Diane’s name as the honoree, and then in the ‘Additional Instructions or Comments box write, ‘Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy Research Fund’ to help Diane support developing a cure for Ovarian Cancer. As alternatives, Diane also suggested donating to an Ovarian Cancer research organization in the UK, or a local animal shelter.
Good bye our dear love! We miss you so much, already. Although we are so saddened that you were taken from us so early, we trust that you are at peace.
We shared a final pot of tea with Diane during the morning of June 24, 2020. She passed away, with her family by her side, after a more than 4-1/2 year battle with Ovarian Cancer.
Diane was born in 1955 in South Wales in the United Kingdom. After her marriage in 1984, Diane lived in Colombia in South America; Louisiana, New Jersey, Virginia, Texas and Vermont in the USA; and England and Scotland in the UK. Although she lived outside of Wales for the majority of her married life, she has always maintained close contacts in Wales with her family, lovingly sharing her Welsh heritage, family and mountains of her home town with her husband Michael, and twin daughters, Rebecca and Christina, via frequent visits and extended stays. Over the years, she did a fantastic job instilling her Welsh culture and values into the values of her children and husband.
Diane graduated as a Registered Nurse from nursing school in the UK, attended Louisiana State University and University of St. Francis in the USA where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree, and earned a certification for teaching English to speakers of other languages from Cambridge University in England. She proudly held a UK nursing license, as well as US nursing licenses from Louisiana, New Jersey and Virginia. Her nursing career was quite varied, including working in several hospitals in Wales, England, and Louisiana, as a school nurse in England and New Jersey, and at several Urgent Care centers in Virginia. Over the years Diane also worked as a volunteer in nursing, teaching English as a Second Language, and as a Girl Scout leader in various communities. She was pleased to be able to fit her career around supporting their daughters through many family moves.
Uplifting joys of Diane’s life included:
i. Finding excitement and joy in friends, places, and experiences
ii. Spending time with her children, family and extended family
iii. Visiting her family members and friends in the many places that they live
iv. Travel
v. Long walks on the beach
vi. Reading
vii. Maintaining contact with family and culture in Wales, including countless visits
viii. Walks on the mountains surrounding her childhood home in Wales
ix. Walks in nature with her husband
x. Spending time with friends – they have provided much support and comfort for Diane as she bravely fought against this disease
xi. Sewing
xii. Hiking
xiii. Current affairs and politics
xiv. Curling up by a nice fire, on a wintry day, with a good book or movie, and her husband
xv. Walks in a drizzle or light rain in cool weather with her husband
Diane leaves behind a husband, Michael; two daughters in Vermont, Rebecca (Matt) and Christina (Jim); and a grand-daughter, Vera. In Wales, her immediate survivors include her mother Vera, along with three brothers, Russell, Barrie (Julia), and Ceri (Rhiannon); two nieces, Ani and Eithne, and her nephew Ioan; several uncles and aunts, and many cousins. Her father, Adrian, pre-deceased her.
Diane was an intelligent woman, who cared deeply about others, and was just such lovely and easy company to be with. Her insightful perspectives, lovely smile, and console will be sorely missed, particularly by her husband of almost 36 years, and our two children. Throughout our lives together, Diane has been our family’s straight edge. Words cannot convey what a great adventurous companion and rock of support to our family that Diane has been.
Due to COVID, we will only have a small memorial service for immediate family and close friends at this time. When the risk of COVID decreases to an acceptable level, we intend to have a larger memorial service for Diane in both Virginia and in Wales.
In lieu of flowers, Diane has requested that donations instead be sent to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, PO Box 631, Buffalo, NY 14240 with ‘Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy Research Fund/Diane Duell Tribute’ in the memo of the check, or on an accompanying note. If you would like to donate online, please go to the Roswell Park donation website, select ‘Most pressing needs at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’, tick the box ‘Yes, this is an honor or memorial gift’, put in Diane’s name as the honoree, and then in the ‘Additional Instructions or Comments box write, ‘Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy Research Fund’ to help Diane support developing a cure for Ovarian Cancer. As alternatives, Diane also suggested donating to an Ovarian Cancer research organization in the UK, or a local animal shelter.
Good bye our dear love! We miss you so much, already. Although we are so saddened that you were taken from us so early, we trust that you are at peace.
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Diane and Mike, have been our friends for 25 years. We have had so many wonderful shared experiences and happy times. We first met when Sam and Mike were both on assignment to EEEL (Esso) in Leatherhead, Surrey UK. We lived in neighboring towns and our daughters attended the American Community School in Cobham, where Diane and Debbie also worked together as school nurses Our girls played together, and we, the adults played together too. We, along with the Whites and the Cunninghams had a number of Murder Mystery dinners together. We dressed up in costume and had themed food for the events. We laughed a lot. We were neighbors again in Morris County, NJ , where we shared a love of Chester village antique shops; Fairfax Virginia where our girls used to like to entertain us with putting on plays together; and briefly in the Woodlands Texas. Twice we shared a beach house vacation together, first in Sandbridge, VA Beach, where our girls played with boogie boards in the ocean and Sam and Mike got sick after eating Wahoo. And later in the Outerbanks, North Carolina, where our girls amused themselves by cooking all of our meals We celebrated life’s milestones together; the Kirzner girls’ Bat Mitzvahs; all of the kids’ weddings, and later, celebrated our grandchildren. There were times, when we were not neighbors, and didn’t see each other very often. However, because we were true friends, it didn’t matter. Whenever we did meet up, we just picked up where we left off. Debbie and Diane had so much in common and found it so easy to talk, to confide in each other. We truly had a loving friendship. The Duells will always hold a special place in hearts and our lives.
I have known Diane since shortly after she met my brother Michael. I was definitely in the way that summer in Britain as Michael was trying to sweep Diane off her feet. But Diane was her usual calm and inclusive self as she invited me on a “girls” vacation to Italy . I also was smitten with her from that day on. We stood up in each other’s weddings, raised our kids at the same time and enjoyed many holidays and vacations together. We had long phone conversations talking about parenting, funny things our kids said or did, juggling careers and talking about our dreams and our values. Diane was the amazing older “sister” who was always there for me. And she will always be there in my heart, Forever. Thank you Diane, for all you have done for me and with me. I will cherish the memories of your calm consul and your sense of fun (like watching football games /marching bands in very cold weather!). Love you always. Michele
I met Diane a few weeks before she married Mike, when Michele and I went to the UK for their wedding. She struck me as being calm, collected, and a lot of fun. My first impressions were right. We had many fun times together, from a few visits BC (Before Children), to many holidays together (after children) in the UK, here in Canada, Baton Rouge, New Jersey, and Virginia. Lastly, and sadly, we met up in Bromont Quebec in February. She was still the same–happy to be there and funny. We will all miss her. Dan Coleman (brother in law)
A Christmas Card that we received long ago – I’ve kept it all these years because it said so much about their life without any words needed at all. A joyous and wild family life with Mike and Diane, Chris and Bec. You have a special place in our hearts, Diane, and will be remembered with smiles and a frequent “remember that time…”
Our lives were enriched by knowing Diane (and the rest of her family) when our son James married Diane’s daughter, Christina. As a result, we made new friends, had lively and thought-provoking discourse and debate. We learned wonderful facts about her homeland and added to our understanding of the world through her knowledge and experiences. She will be sorely missed by us. We pray that her family, and all of us, recover from this devasting loss in the most positive fashion possible… V/r, The Brent Family
So many memories of life with Diane and her lovely family over the years. I met her at a playground at ACS in Cobham, where our kindergarten girls became fast friends, and so did Diane and I. Her calm, gracious and welcoming way always made me feel at home. This is a photo of us at the spouses club holiday luncheon in 2016. We all share the ache of her absence, but I am confident that we will see her again. Kathy White
Mrs. Duell. Diane. In the countless hours spent at the second home of my early childhood– the Duell’s home – and the long Saturdays and Halloween nights of middle school in Oakton, Diane’s sweet, subtle presence could be felt warming the house, keeping us safe and healthy. Calling out “Girls!” in the way only she could – her dulcet, lyrical, Welsh awakening melodies that are sure to have been formative for me. We’d get too rowdy and she’d firmly check-in all the while smiling or chuckling and making space for our wild imaginations. With Diane there was always a sense of knowing, a wisdom kept to yourself making space for us to figure things out on our own. Her wildly adventurous side could be felt as she allowed us to whoop and holler in the back seat on the rollercoaster ride of Vale Rd and in her readiness to come along for all of Mr. Duell’s grand ideas. Gently listening in as we yelled into the walkie talkies between cars on the drive from NJ to Virginia or to Hershey Park. I’d get up early after sleep overs and come down to the kitchen. She would greet me and speak to me as though I were truly special. Thank you for holding me dear. Thank you for being a true friend for my mother through all the moves and especially in retirement. Thank you for raising such strong, spirited, kind, and unique daughters. In all of my time with the family, Mr. and Mrs. Duell have been a pair to behold. Respectful and caring. Smiles turning to joyful laughter. A deep example of love. When I picture Diane it is with a big smile and with eyes lovingly directed to Mike. My deepest sympathies go to you, Mr. Duell, her truehearted caretaker. My heart goes out to my dearest childhood friends, Chrissy and Becky. What an unutterable loss. I am sad to be so far away at this precious moment. Recently our gatherings have included travelling long distances to bear witness to life. I have been so honored to experience your mother’s strength, getting up to dance and hug and cheer everyone on. When gathering is possible again, we will do the same. Much, much love, Ann Marie
Diane was a great person. Very caring and understanding of others. We very much enjoyed spending time with her and the family. We got to know Diane and Mike when we became neighbors in Virginia. We have many fond memories and fun times with get togethers and concerts. We also enjoyed deeper discussions with her and Mike on topics of what is important in life. Diane was a caring and lovely lady, we will miss her.
Diane, often spoken in conjunction with Mike, as in, “Hey, let’s have Mike and Diane over” or “We need to pick up Ann Marie at the Duell’s” or “Let’s meet Mike and Diane at Arties”, etc. over all the years together in England, New Jersey and Virginia. An enjoyable time was assured as we shared our lives, hopes and cares. We have been enriched by knowing her through the raising of our families, our assignments with ExxonMobil, and into retirement. Diane’s gentle voice with her lilting accent will truly be missed as we go forward. Here is a picture from my retirement dinner.
Dinae and I became friends when our families were in England in the mid-to-late 90s. She joined Anne, Kathy, and me as Brownie leaders and we added Brenda along the way as Anne returned to the US. We planned wonderful activities for our girls — I would put us up as a leaders against anyone else around. Dinae was a caring and calm voice as I would get excited about something. She always kept the welfare of everyone around her foremost in her mind. Besides England, our 5 families have had a luck of staying in touch and getting together over the years since then – as the girls graduated from high school and the last few years with weddings. I could not ask for better friends than these. We will miss Diane in future gatherings but hope your family will not be strangers to us.
So sorry for you and your families’ loss. Only knew Diane briefly, during our time together in Colombia, but she left a lasting impression…. of a kind, caring and beautiful, lady. Rick Croote
What wonderful stories and memories of Diane’s beautiful life. Our hearts go out to the Duell family. With love and prayers, Linda (Dziduch, cousin) and Len Rao.
My name is Mary Carter and Diane and i shared so many fond memories growing up together in a small village in the Rhondda Fach in South Wales. We attended the same schools and were lifelong companions sharing the many trials and tribulations of life. Always charming, graceful, intelligent and a beautiful person inside and out. I cannot believe that she has gone with so much for us to still do together. She leaves a loving husband two wonderful daughters and grandchildren who will no longer be able to share her smile and her companionship. I miss you Diane you were taken far too soon but my fond memories will live on until we meet again. Your lifelong friend Mary