DIANE ELAINE VAN DEUSON - photo


GLENBURN - Diane E. Van Deuson, 69, wife of Thomas Jones and mother of John Jones passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus April 5, 2014 at her home following a valiant eight year fight against ovarian cancer. Diane was born February 23, 1945, in Hamilton, Ohio, the daughter of the late Robert W. and Anna Marie (Hoffmann) Service.

Diane attended St. Peter in Chains Elementary School and graduated in the Class of 1963 from Notre Dame High School, Hamilton, Ohio. She received the Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati. In her career in elementary education, Diane taught elementary school in Ohio and Special Education in Maine. She also worked as a volunteer for Americorps in Frankfort, Kentucky. Diane taught Religious Education, was a member of the St. Cecilia Chapter of the Daughters of Isabella in Old Town and for many years was a Eucharistic Minister at Eastern Maine Medical Center. She was a member of The Recycling Committee of the Town of Glenburn and was active in raising awareness of the importance of recycling among school age children. Through the Environmental Protection Agency Diane was instrumental in bringing pesticide danger awareness to Glenburn through the Yardscape Program.

Diane filled her home with vibrant color and artistic creations, and built a lovely little studio out back that she fashioned from recycled building supplies she acquired from structures being torn down. She loved to haul these treasures home in her trailer and couldn’t have been happier than when she was building or working outside in and around the house and studio. She never drove by a yard sale without stopping, and delighted in her regular pilgrimages to craft fairs and to the Dollar Store. Diane took up the violin as an adult, fulfilling a longtime dream. She thanks and credits her teacher, Laura Gallucci for guiding her in artistic and musical growth.

Following her diagnosis and during treatment, Diane became a strong voice for ovarian cancer awareness and education, appearing frequently on television and in the news in her efforts to help raise awareness of this disease and to help women seek necessary treatment. Diane and her family fervently wish for all women and men to become familiar with the subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer by visiting www.ovarian.org.

In 1974, Diane married Thomas Jones and they began a forty year life together filled with artistic expression and musical adventure. With their son, John they loved hiking, kayaking, sketching and painting along the Maine coast as well as traveling the inland rivers of America aboard the steamboats where Tom performed. Their lives were greatly strengthened in the journey of their faith. Diane, Tom and John lived and worked in New England and Ohio, settling in Maine in 1989. Diane was her husband’s biggest fan, and would lovingly refer to Tom’s career in show business and piano tuning as “the dog and pony show.”

In addition to her husband, Diane is survived by the light of her life, her son in whom she takes immense pride, John D. Jones of Burlington, Vermont, her loving sister Donna J. Halsted of Plantation, Florida and many dear nieces and nephews and their families. The family wishes to extend its deep gratitude to the countless friends who were supportive in every way throughout the course of Diane’s illness, in particular to Bangor Area Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care of Eastern Maine for the professional and loving care given to Diane and her loved ones in her final days.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 5-8 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated
10 a.m. Friday, April 11, 2014 at the Resurrection of the Lord, Holy Family Parish, 429 Main St., Old Town. Immediately following the service all are invited to the Parish Hall for a light luncheon and continued fellowship. A memorial mass at St. Peter in Chains Church in Hamilton, Ohio followed by interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamilton will be announced.

Those who wish to remember Diane in a special way may make gifts in her memory to either or both of two organizations: Sarah's House of Maine, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04401, or online at www.sarahshouseofmaine.org under the Pledge Online section. The money that comes in from this contribution will help provide those suffering with cancer throughout the state of Maine a place to find support, shelter and strength during the most difficult times. The second organization where donations may be sent is a place that was extremely helpful to Diane during her illness: Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center, P.O. Box 322, Ellsworth, Maine 04605.

Because of her lifelong allergies to fragrances, and in honor of Diane and her family’s commitment to fragrance and chemical free environments, the family requests that only small flower offerings be considered.

Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.