Diane G. Kooij

ORANGE- Diane Grace Kooij was born midway through the 20th century. She spent her early years in the Bronx with her parents and siblings and her strong accent would always give away her origins. She attended City College of New York for her undergraduate degree.  From an early age she was restless and she left the Bronx for Iowa and then lived overseas in Germany, where she taught herself the language and earned a master’s of education in Social Work.  She found a home in Orange, MA where she put down roots and continued to serve the community as a counselor and in later years as a patient care assistant.  She never lost her love of travel and could often be found driving off to another adventure.  One of her favorites  was a bus trip across America where she discovered an affinity for the southwest.

 Diane was proud, strong-willed, and determined.  She had a heart of gold and could not bear to see someone else struggling.  She regularly opened her home to those who needed a safe place and was generous with the little she had. 

 One of her greatest loves and legacy was family history.  She devoted most of her life to researching and documenting family stories and genealogy.  One of her biggest regrets was not being able to further trace the Eastern European part of the family tree due to records being held in the former Soviet Union. 

 Diana joins her parents, Edna and Gustave, and her brother Gus in Heaven.  She leaves behind her sisters (Edna and Maryann), her five children (Becky, Cindy, David, Katie, and Andrew), and her seven grandchildren (Damien, Tabitha, Lucas, Theodore, Maggie, Rosie, and Bodhi). 

 With her death, Diana became one of the angels that care for and protect those still on earth.  She left her roots and gained her wings.

 A mother of five became

lost in the ways mortals do.

Dwelling in a world where one’s

angels don't take flight,

but linger in the mortal tedium.

Still she hovered high.

She loved with ease,

and held higher hopes

for each person she met.

Far higher than they dared to

dream for themselves.

 Memorial Mass will be at St. Mary’s Church in Orange,  on Friday, December 2, 2022 at 10 a.m.  Interment to follow after in South Cemetery, Orange.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Diane’s name to the Wheeler Memorial Public Library in Orange, MA 01364

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.

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