Diane T. Cortese

Obituary of Diane T. Cortese
Diane Theresa (Thornton) Cortese, age 80, passed away peacefully at her home in Burlington on July 13, 2025. She was the beloved wife of Donald Cortese, with whom she had shared over 59 wonderful years of marriage.
Born in Boston, MA on November 7, 1944, she was one of six children to the late Martin and Lucy (Basteri) Thornton. Diane graduated from North Cambridge Catholic High School with the Class of 1962. She then went on to earn her nursing degree from Mass General School of Nursing in 1965. Working as a nurse and a mentor to other new nurses coming through the program at Mass General was one of the many highlights of Diane's life.
In 1982, Diane earned her bachelor's degree from Emmanuel College, and went on to work as a nurse in the health department at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School. She held her position there for 25 years, and always showed tremendous compassion and kindness to the students and colleagues she met along the way.
From a young age, Diane was a gifted tennis player. Her love for the sport was likely the reason for her incredible abilities, and although she won numerous trophies, in her heart she just loved being able to play. As the years went by, Diane's love for tennis never faded and she decided to become a tennis official for junior matches and high school matches. She quickly worked her way up to officiating college matches and even professional matches as well. Always wanting to be as involved as she could, Diane soon started volunteering at the USTA New England and was appointed to the tennis officials committee, and after only two years she took over as chairperson for the next eight years.
Diane's dedication to tennis was unwavering, and that did not go unnoticed. Following her time with the New England USTA, she was appointed to the USTA Tennis Rule Committee as Vice-Chair, and was later appointed to Chair of the committee. On this committee she oversaw the rules and regulations of the sport for the entire country. She also spent 20 years working as a line umpire and staff member for the tennis US Open in New York, with her loving husband by her side.
Above all else though, Diane loved her family and friends. She was a devoted mother and wife who loved being there for her children's big events in life and for the little quiet moments that mattered just as much. Diane was the kind of person who never knew a stranger, and was always quick to extend love and understanding to anyone she met. Those who knew her deeply appreciated how she made a safe, non-judgmental place for people to just be who they were.
When Diane was first diagnosed, she and Don decided to finally live out their dream of doing some traveling. After some debate, they landed on going to Italy where they would make countless memories together. This trip was a true testament to the love they had for one another, and when they arrived home that love never faded for a moment. Throughout their marriage, Diane was always a loving source of strength for Don, and to the end Don was that same loving strength for Diane.
Along with her beloved husband, Diane is survived by her daughter, Cynthia (Cortese) Parker and her husband Michael of Herndon, VA; her sisters, Jean Melanson and her husband Mel of Methuen, Joan Drushella and her husband Kent of Harwich, Pat Underwood and her husband Tom of Harwich; her sister-in-law, Judy Thornton of Worcester, as well as many other dear nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Diane was the loving mother of the late Andrew Cortese who passed on June 26, 2011. She was also a dear sister of the late Marty Thornton and Kay and Joe Mignault.
Friends and family are invited to attend visitation on Thursday, July 17 from 4 pm until 7 pm at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington. Her Funeral Mass will begin at the Funeral Home on Friday, July 18 at 9 am with her Funeral Mass to follow at 10 am at St. Margaret's Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington. Burial will immediately follow in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Diane's honor may be made to the Boston Sportsmen's Tennis and Enrichment Center, 950 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124.