DIANE L. JONARDI

JONARDI
DIANE L.
Diane Lawrence Jonardi, born in Hartford, CT, to Albert and Selma Lawrence, raised in Windsor, CT, passed away from complications due to Alzheimer's on February 3, 2018, in Winter Springs, FL. She was 85 years old. Diane and her father were survivors of the Great Hartford Circus Fire of 1944. She attended Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, two years at Connecticut College, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Oberlin College with a Degree in Mathematics, although her lifelong love was acting. She worked for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, PA, where she was introduced to future husband, Raymond "Jeff" Jonardi, by his sister, Lidia Jonardi Ludwig. Ray and Diane were married in 1957 and resided in South Park, PA, until 2013 when they moved to Maitland, FL. Diane achieved recognition in Pittsburgh as an actress at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, Little Lake Theater, Odd Chair Playhouse, Baldwin Players, South Park Conservatory Theater, Pittsburgh Irish Theater, and the Jewish Community Center. She also appeared in several commercials, industrial films, and four movies. Diane was a Steelers and Notre Dame fan (Ray played football for Notre Dame). Diane is survived by her husband of 60 years, Ray; daughter, Dale (Mark) Burns; son, Andrew (Lara); grandson, James Jeffrey (Chelsea) Burns; granddaughter, Caryn Diane Burns (fiance, David Smiley); cousin, Shirley Martin Dudley; sister-in-law, Valia Keller; brother-in-law, Enzo Jonardi; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to either the Alzheimer's Association or Alzheimer's Disease Research. A Celebration of Life will take place on February 24, 2018, at 4 p.m. at DEGUSIPE FUNERAL HOME, 9001 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland, FL 32751.