Diana B. Patnode

Obituary of Diana B. Patnode
Diana (Klerowski) Patnode, age 82, of Windsor Locks, CT, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2025, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT.
She was born on August 20, 1943, in Chelsea, MA, to the late Michael and Blanche (Dawid) Klerowski. She was beloved by her entire family as the oldest of six siblings, and grew up in Easthampton, MA, where she made many lifelong friends. After graduating from Easthampton High School, she first moved to Washington, DC, and later settled in Windsor Locks, CT, with her husband, George Patnode, and daughter Nicole. There, she embarked on a career in banking at Fleet Bank that spanned more than twenty years and then moved to First National Bank of Suffield, where she ended her banking career. She helped countless colleagues and clients along the way.
Outside of work, Diana was equally devoted to her family and friends. She was a loving wife and mother, devoted sister, who was always looking for an opportunity to spend time or go on an adventure with her immediate and extended family. She found joy in travel, whether to Wells, Maine, every summer or to Australia for the trip of a lifetime. She enjoyed spending time in her yard as well as attending swim meets, track meets, band concerts, and many more events to support Nicole. She also spent many summers on a motorcycle, both driving her own bike that was fit especially for her and traveling as a passenger with George. Through it all, Diana's life was marked by her dedication to family and willingness to help out in any way.
Diana will be dearly missed by her children and step-children, Nicole Nilsen and her husband Erik, her daughter Anne Cochran and her husband Douglas, her step-daughter Tracy Lavender and her husband Scott Kunzel, and her step-daughter Rebecca Swords and her husband Kieth. She will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by her grandchildren, Anders and Brady Nilsen, Samantha and Sierra Swords, Emma, John, and Tony Cochran. Diana remained particularly close to her younger sister Michelle LaPlante, who is the last surviving sibling. She very much loved her six nieces and nephews, as well as their children, and they all have fond memories of their Auntie Di at family gatherings or other special events. Her kindness and generosity to them will always be remembered and cherished. Donna was predeceased by George Patnode and his son George ("Chip"), her parents Michael and Blanche, her brothers Dennis, Donald, and Mark, and sister Donna (Klerowski) Dionne.
Those who knew Diana remember her funny mannerisms, her willingness to drive her sisters around, and her Polish cooking. Ultimately, Diana will be remembered for her kindness and the way she made everyone feel valued. She cared deeply about her friends and all those whose lives she touched, and her love will continue to ripple outward for generations to come.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory be made to the BreastFriends charity to help find a cure for breast cancer. (https://breastfriends.org for donations).