Diane Braden

Diane (Grube) Braden, age 68, passed away suddenly at her home on October 29, 2020 after a seven-year valiant and courageous battle with ovarian cancer. Our beautiful wife, mom, and Grammy was the love of our lives. She met her soul mate and long-time love, Greg, at The Ohio State University in 1973 and they have been happily married and devoted to each other for 45 years.

Diane was born and raised in Rocky River, OH. She graduated from The Ohio State University nursing school in 1974 and her first job was the charge nurse for the University of Michigan walk-in clinic. Thereafter she was the head nurse for John Rhea Barton surgical associates of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She subsequently moved to Longmeadow, MA in 1981 to take on the role that she was most proud of - incredible mom to her daughters and loving supporter to her husband in his demanding medical career. She was the rock of the Braden family and glue that successfully held it all together.

Diane was one of a kind. Her smile lit up every room. She was a mama bear to everyone. She loved deeply, was selfless, incredibly devoted, and she had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel like they were part of the family whether she knew them for 2 minutes or 20 years. She was our sassy firecracker who was fiercely protective of her family. She was everyone’s best friend and confidante and the first person everyone would turn to for her intuitive knowledge and wisdom. She made us laugh constantly with her witty commentary of life’s events. She had an undying love of all animals, especially her beloved golden retrievers. She was an integral part of the Longmeadow community, spending countless hours helping the schools as well as years volunteering her time to enhance the Longmeadow Field Hockey program. Her favorite activity was spending time with her family, especially yearly trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Diane was the most loved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was pre-deceased by her father, Clarence Grube, her step-father, Russell Rissman, and her mother, Miriam (Grube) Rissman, who she supported tremendously in her last eight years of life even while she was fighting her own battle with ovarian cancer. She was also pre-deceased by her son, Benjamin, and beloved golden retrievers, Sammy and Lily.

Diane leaves behind her soulmate and husband of 45 years, Gregory Braden, MD, of Longmeadow, MA; her adoring daughters, Ashley Krauss (Braden) of Allendale, NJ and Kate Mounkhall (Braden) of Park Ridge, NJ; her sons-in-law who she loved like sons and who loved her like a mother, David Krauss and Brian Mounkhall; her beloved grandchildren and the lights of her life, Ben Krauss, Will Krauss, and Quinn Mounkhall; her sister, best friend, and confidante, Maria Spooner and husband Eric Spooner, MD, who was the brother she never had, of Delmar, NY; her sister Cheryl Fredericks and husband, Rob, of Wayne, PA; her brother-in-law Geoffrey Braden, MD and wife Barbara of Logan, UT. She will also be missed dearly by her nieces, Emily Spooner-Smith (Jim), Molly Agnew (Jake), Lisa Montesano, Amy Braden, and Sarah Braden (Christopher) and her nephew Eric Fredericks (Mollie). She leaves behind too many best friends to name who all held an incredibly special place in her heart as well as many of her daughters’ childhood friends, who view her as their second mother.

The Braden, Krauss, and Mounkhall families would like to deeply thank the care and support provided to Diane for the last seven years by Dr. Tashanna Myers, Chief of Gynecologic Oncology at Baystate Medical Center. In addition, they would like to thank the tireless efforts of an incredible team at Mass General Hospital - Dr. Richard Penson, Clinical Director of Gynecologic Oncology, his partner Dr. Oladapo Yeku, and their support staff, including Tina Colella and Laura Sullivan.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Diane’s memory can be made to MGH Gynecologic Oncology Research Fund c/o Richard Penson, Yawkey Pavilion, Suite 9E, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114 or online at https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/ (enter Gynecological Oncology Research Programs Fund c/o Richard Penson as the program in step 4).

Services are entrusted to Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation. Due to COVID restrictions, Diane’s family will have a small private gathering to celebrate her life followed by a memorial service next year once COVID restrictions have been lifted. To leave a message of personal condolence visit www.forastiere.com.