Diane D. (Dow) Deane, 73, of Holden passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, after an illness. Born and raised in Livermore Falls, Maine, Diane was the daughter of Charles and Irene (Loon) Dow, and lived 38 years in Holden.

She leaves her beloved husband of 48 years, James S. Deane; her two children, Alan S. Deane and his wife Jennifer of Westborough, and Andrea D. Young and her husband Michael of Shrewsbury; a sister, Suzanne Austin and her partner Glenn Ikemoto of Brunswick, Maine 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, Pennsylvania; and several nephews and nieces.

Diane graduated from Livermore Falls High School and 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, Maine for several years before moving to Holden in 1977 where they raised their two children. Most of her nursing career was spent at Holden Nursing Home where she worked the 11 pm to 7 am 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 the lakes of Maine 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.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Diane’s family from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 26, at St. Mary’s Church, 114 Princeton St., Jefferson. Memorial contributions may be made to NEADS/Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans, P.O. Box 1100, Princeton, MA 01541.