Diana Lynn Day died on September 3, 2023, in Portland, Maine, following a long struggle with dementia concurrently with bulbar-onset ALS. She was 70.
She was born on November 14, 1952, in Morrisville, Vermont, to Darrell A. and Shirley L. (Farrand) Dezotell.
Diana graduated from North Country Union High School, Newport, Vermont, in 1970, and from Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1974. In college she met fellow history major Paul Day; they were united in marriage on December 18, 1976, during a blizzard in Newport, Vermont. The couple moved to Chicago, Illinois, and Twin Lake, Michigan, as Paul completed seminary training at North Park Theological Seminary and served as intern at Cedar Creek Evangelical Covenant Church. They then moved to Clear Lake, Washington, where Paul served as pastor of Community Covenant Church, and their daughters, Catherine, Meredith, and Allyson were born. They returned to New England to Worcester, Massachusetts, to serve Bethlehem Covenant Church. Diana earned a MEd in special education from Worcester State University. In 1997 they moved to Portland.
Following college graduation Diana worked in banking, and as a substitute teacher and tutor. After receiving her MEd, she worked in several private and public schools in Massachusetts and Maine. In 2017 she retired after 19 years as the special education consultant teacher at Scarborough Middle School. She always said how much she loved her middle schoolers.
Diana will be remembered for her warm smile, her compassion, and caring. Her principal often told her that she was “too nice.” Throughout the years Diana was also active in the churches where Paul was pastor, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, and participating in the women’s groups. Diana enjoyed being with her family and friends, the family dogs and cats, music, reading, and opportunities to travel.
Diana is survived by her husband, Paul, and daughters, Catherine Day-Hirsch (Michael) of Valley Cottage, New York; Meredith Miller (Matt) of Gorham; and Allyson Day (Catherine Harrington) Day of Toledo, Ohio; five grandchildren, Henry, Cecelia, and Samuel Miller; Cameron Day-Harrington and Anderson Day-Hirsch; and a brother, Steven Dezotell (Rhonda) of Haysville, Kansas. The family would like to thank the staff of Hospice of Southern Maine for the care they gave to Diana.
Peace be to her memory.
