DIANE NEUMANN

1947 - 2026

NEUMANN, Diane "Choose Life - only this and always at whatever cost" Age 78,passed away peacefully on March 25, 2026, surrounded by cherished family and friends. Diane was a "proud Sicilian" who loved dancing, traveling, writing, reading, Italian food (cooking and eating), and spending as much time as possible in the sun – the hotter, the better. Above all, Diane loved people. She loved talking with people, laughing with people, working with people, arguing with people, truly and deeply connecting with people. She made lifelong friends everywhere she lived – New Britain and Newington, Connecticut; Holliston, Newton, Cambridge and Provincetown, Massachusetts; Gulfport and South Pasadena, Florida. Her social calendar was always booked (usually double-booked or triple-booked). Her dance card was always full. Professionally, Diane was a force of nature. In 1981, she started her own practice in the budding field of divorce mediation, after which she put herself through law school at night and wrote two books on the subject. For over 25 years, Diane was recognized as one of the foremost divorce mediators in the United States, serving in leadership positions in the industry and also training, mentoring and encouraging young mediators across the country. The loves of her life were her adoring family, especially the seven grandchildren who knew her as "Gram Cracker." She shared a deep and individual bond with each one, but she was never happier than when spending time with them together, ideally in her pool or on her deck or around the dining room table with bowls of cut fruit, a deck of cards, and an endless supply of food and laughs. She had the rare gift to make a connection with – and an impression on – everyone she met, however brief the encounter. She will be remembered for her passion for life, her wicked sense of humor, her refusal to suffer fools, her generosity, her ability to inspire, her endless curiosity and drive for personal connection, and her beaming, beautiful smile. Diane, the firstborn daughter of Nancy Patania (Vinci, who was born in Sicily and immigrated to America via Ellis Island at age 4) and Paul Patania (a first-generation American whose parents were born in Sicily), was born in New Britain, Connecticut, in 1947. She is survived by her two children, whom Diane loved and inspired in ways words cannot capture: Brian Neumann (and wife Liz Bouvier) and Stacey Neumann (and husband Noah Perlut), as well as their father, her dear ex-husband, Peter Neumann. She also is lovingly remembered by her seven grandchildren – Katherine, Rosa, William, Nico, Enzo, Lucy and Coco – whom she cherished to the point of devotion; and her beloved sister, Janice Grady (and husband Richard Grady). In addition, she is survived by her adored nephews and families, and devoted friends too numerous to list. Celebrations of Diane's Life will be held in Massachusetts and Florida – details of each will be made available. Please visit www.bostoncremation.org for information. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, Massachusetts (https://www.caredimensions.org/donate) or the Sonia Plotnick Women's Health Fund in St. Petersburg, Florida (https://soniaplotnickhealthfund.org).

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