Diane S. Duce

Diane Stowell Duce, 89, of Westborough, MA died peacefully on Sunday, November 7, 2021 in Northborough, MA.  She was born in Gardner, MA on July 15, 1932 and was the daughter of the late Stanley Austin Stowell and Ellen (Cooke) Stowell.

Diane was the wife of the late Benjamin Randall Duce to whom she was married for 56 years.  She is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth (Duce) Sedlins and her husband John of Shepherdstown, WV and Cynthia (Duce) Cote and her husband Dennis of Sutton, MA, and one son, Jonathan Duce and his wife Linda of Waltham, MA.  She is survived by six grandchildren, two great grandsons and nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her sister, Suzanne (Stowell) Sherwood of Jamestown, NC.

Diane was a graduate of Orange High School in Orange, MA and earned a BA in Business Administration from Colby College in Waterville, ME in 1954.

After graduation, she was employed at a Wall Street firm in New York City before marrying and settling in Northborough, MA.  Her husband’s job led them and two young daughters to move to Molndal, Sweden where they lived from 1965-1967 and where their son was born.  After returning to the United States, the family settled in Westborough, MA.  Diane was an active parishioner at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Hopkinton, MA.  She played the organ on many occasions and was employed as parish secretary.  Later, she worked in the guidance department in the Westborough High School where she happily interacted with students pursuing college opportunities.  After retirement, she volunteered with the Westborough School System.

Diane was an avid reader, fond of a good mystery, travel stories and history books.  She never missed reading the local newspapers.  A loyal Red Sox fan her entire life, Fenway Park was a favorite place along with Mid-Coast Maine and beaches in the Carolinas.  Diane enjoyed art and was a member of the Worcester Art Museum.  She loved animals and was an equal partner with her husband in their retirement business of home pet care called Companion Associates.

Diane was a talented seamstress and, as a young mother, enjoyed sewing clothes for her children.  As a grandmother, she excelled at knitting.  Each of her six grandchildren have several sweaters and hats from their childhood which are now being passed on to the next generation.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 13 at 11am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 61 Wood Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748 followed by a short reception in the parish hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to an animal rescue organization in your community.

Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of the Pickering & Son Westborough Funeral Home.

www.WestboroughFuneralHome.com