Mildred C. Diesfeld

ARCADE - Mildred C. Diesfeld, of Arcade, passed away Monday (April 5, 2021) at her residence, at the age of 92.

Mildred was born Sept. 28, 1928, in Olean, and was the daughter of the late Patrick and Katherine Prendergast Cronin.

As a graduate of Arnot Ogden School of Nursing, she practiced at the O'Dell Medical Center in Arcade for over 40 years. She was often referred to as "Dr. Millie" by some of her patients. She was a perceptive nurse who cared for generations of families alongside her husband, Dr. Gerard Diesfeld.

She was a member of St. Mary's Church and Altar Society in Arcade.

She lived in Japan and California and travelled to Europe, the Caribbean and New Zealand. Mildred was vibrant, lively and dedicated to her family.

She greatly enjoyed recalling special times with family and relatives from across her lifetime. She had a vast knowledge and great passion for history, literature and royalty.

She is survived by her husband, former classmate and Korean Conflict Air Force pilot, Dr. Gerard Diesfeld, whom she married Sept. 1, 1951, at St. Mary's Church in Olean; her children, Steven Diesfeld of Arcade, Susan (Robert) Rice of East Aurora, Patrick (Estela) Diesfeld of Ventura, Calif., Mary (Nigel Goodchild) Diesfeld of New Zealand and James (Yolanda) Diesfeld of Chicago, Ill.; her grandchildren, Kathleen (Sean) Trujillo, Nicole (Robert) Blaine, Gerard Diesfeld, Isabella Diesfeld, Catalina Diesfeld and Mona Mia Diesfeld; her great-grandchildren, Bronson and Natalia Trujillo and Hudson Blaine; her special kin, nephews Mark Welch, Ron Welch and Mike Woods, and niece, Eileen Woods Perala.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Harold Cronin, who was a former colonel and served in the Air Force during WWII, and William Cronin who passed away in an airplane crash in the Sierra Mountains while training to become a navigator in the Air Force during WWII; her sister, Lillian Woods; and loving sister and best friend, Eileen Welch.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today (April 8, 2021) at the W.S. Davis Funeral Home, 358 Main St., Arcade. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday (April 9, 2021) at St. Mary's Church, 417 W. Main St., Arcade, with Rev. Joseph Gullo officiating. Final interment will be held at St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Allegany..

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Arcade Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 303, Arcade, NY 14009.

Online condolences may be offered at wsdavisfuneralhome.com.