Diane Keegan Shepard

Diane Keegan Shepard of Pelham, left this world, full of love, with her devoted and eternally thankful family by her side on September 25, 2025.
Diane was born in Northampton on February 13, 1942 and was raised on McClellan Street in Amherst, Massachusetts by her late parents, Stanley Keegan and Elsie (Whitney) Keegan.
Diane graduated from Amherst Regional High School in 1960. Diane participated in sports and cheerleading, and upon accepting a dare from friends to talk to Donnie, she met the love of her life. Diane and Donnie became inseparable and later married on March 18th 1962, in Amherst. They moved to Spokane, Washington where Don was stationed in the United States Air Force and eventually settled back in Pelham enjoying 57 years of marriage, sharing a lifetime of love and memories raising their family. Diane was a devoted stay at home mom until becoming the Tax Collector in Pelham for many years. She then worked and retired from the University of Massachusetts.
Diane always put her family at the forefront of everything she did. In her younger years, she proudly supported her husband's auto and snowmobile racing and even joined in-racing snowmobiles in the powder puff class and driving his '55 Chevy in drag races. Later, they enjoyed cruise nights in their 1954 Chevrolet pickup. Diane and Don loved traveling in their camper, whether for nearby getaways or winters in Florida. Their favorite spots, Daytona and Port Canaveral were filled with good times and dear friends they met up with every year.
Diane's tireless work ethic and selfless spirit touched every part of her life, from her career to her home and beyond. One of her proudest contributions was helping to restore Pelham's historic Community Hall to preserve its legacy. But most of all, Diane was endlessly proud of her children, Ron, Don & Von, she was their biggest fan and she supported and loved them everyday of her life. Grammy was always there for her grandsons, cheering them on at games, piano recitals, school events and helping to raise each one with her magical grandmother abilities. Most family outings or dinners were followed by ice cream and a brownie and Grammy saying, "of course they can have seconds, Grammy's house, Grammy's rules".
Diane was predeceased by her husband and lifelong love, Donald in 2018. She leaves behind her three children who were the luckiest kids in the world, Ronald, his wife Debra (Yingst) of Pelham, Donald, his wife Doreen (Sparkman) of Sturbridge and Lavonne and her husband Scott Rathbun of Pelham. If there was one thing that brought Diane more joy than her own children, it was her seven grandsons, Frederick (wife Kristina and her great-grandson Kai), Jeffrey, Levi, Remy, Jack, Scotty & James.
Diane also leaves her brother Kim Keegan, wife Janet and sister Karen all of Sunderland, her sister-in-law Sally Ann Shepard of Spokane, WA and dear family Steve and Mae Yingst of Leverett, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were very important to her. She was predeceased by her siblings who she loved so much, Stanley, Gene, Cynthia and Peter.
A private burial will take place at Cook Johnson Cemetery in Pelham. Everyone is welcome to attend a casual drop-in celebration of life on Saturday, October 4th, from 3pm-6pm at the Community Hall in Pelham located at approximately 2 North Valley Road in Pelham. Additional parking is located across the street behind the Police/Fire Station or the Pelham School.
We will miss her smile, her sense of humor, her love of sweet treats, her one-cup salad, her Shep's recipe baked beans and her famous homemade spaghetti sauce. Most of all, we will miss her love, her big hugs and snuggles. Bushel and a pecker and a hug around the necker. I love. xo
In memory of Diane, donations can be made to Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 N. Pleasant St. Amherst, MA 01002.
Memorial guestbook can be found at douglassfuneral.com