Diane Healy, 62 died peacefully on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born and raised in Nashua, NH and was the beloved daughter of the late Rita and Joseph Belanger who were founding members of St. Joseph Parish.
Diane was baptized at St. Joseph Parish in 1957 with her Godparents present, Lucille and Gerald Belanger, who were also founding members of the parish. She attended St. Joseph School on Lake Street for 8 years before attending Nashua High School. Upon graduation, Diane attended Hesser College where she earned an associate’s degree before going on to NH College where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems, and then she earned her Master of Science Degree from Rivier College.
Diane began her career at BAE systems as a software engineer. After 20 years of after-hours calls and going into work in the wee hours of the morning, she transferred to the Engineering Tools and Services Department where she was a Senior Technical Support Analyst managing 20 million dollars in Software licenses. At work, she supported the Employee Participation Committee (one of her jobs is making popcorn every other Tuesday for the employees in her building); Employee Engagement Committee (which has functions that enable employees to interact with other employees they may not have met before); and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Dianewas also a trained First Responder.
Diane has been involved in the St. Joseph Parish since 1981 beginning with teaching Religious Education to the children of the parish after school. Following this, she began her outdoor ministry; she gardened at the church and rectory, decorated the rectory at Christmas time, and picked up the trash at the rectory. Diane was also responsible for instituting the recycling program at the church and rectory. Utilizing her technical background, she joined the Website Committee for which she posted the teachings for Bishop Christian on Facebook, posted the homily, and has recorded a special program series for the Parish website.
Diane was a proud Eucharistic Minister, she was involved with Outreach Communion, and Prayer leads at the 4 pm Mass. She was also involved with Mass Collections, is an Altar Server, and a Mass Greeter. In the community, Diane was a core group member of the Rivier Prayer Community and a member of SELA (The Spirit of Elijah Lay Apostolate). When the cafe at BAE was collecting money to feed the poor, Diane would purchase groceries and deliver them to the Salvation Army food pantry.
Diane has 5 rescue animals: a turtle, a bird, 3 rabbits and a cat. Shortly after Diane’s Mother went to heaven, she felt the house was too quiet, so she adopted a rabbit she called Buttercup. Buttercup would lie at her feet at night like a dog and has been a source of laughter and entertainment for Diane. Her latest rescue is a cat she named Otis. Otis was abused by a previous owner and after a full year of veterinary care, Otis is now back to being healthy. When Diane adopted Otis, he did not know how to play; however, seeing him now play with Buttercup is heartwarming. Otis continues to discover toys and how to play with them. In appreciation of Diane’s love and care, he would never be far from her when she was home.
In her spare time, Diane loved woodworking, art, writing, and gardening including two banana trees among her indoor plants. Diane liked to express herself artistically by taking outdoor elements like abandoned bee hives and bird nests to create art, centerpieces, and little scenes. Her favorite thing, however, was to spend time with family and she couldn’t wait to retire so she could spend even more time with them and continue to serve the community.
Our parish gratefully recognizes all that Diane has done and continues to do to build up God’s Kingdom among us and we ask God’s blessings upon her and her loved ones.
Diane is survived by her three siblings, Paul Roger Belanger and his wife Sherry of Bath, SC, Andre Belanger and his wife Mary of Nashua, and Mary Alice Gagnon and her husband David of Chichester, NH; she is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends as well as her beloved cat, Otis.
Relatives and friends are invited to Diane’s Funeral Mass on TUESDAY, October 13th, at 10 AM in St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 777 West Hollis Street, Nashua. KINDLY MEET AT CHURCH. Interment will follow in St. Louis Cemetery, Nashua. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Diane’s name to the Nashua Humane Society, 24 Ferry Road, Nashua, NH 03064. Arrangements entrusted to the care of ROCHETTE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 21 Kinsley Street, Nashua.
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