Diane L. (LaMothe) Handy, 64 years, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family at the Miller-McClure Respite House in Colchester on July 5, 2017.
Diane was born on February 23, 1953 in Burlington, VT, the second of ten children to Oscar G. and Barbara G. (South) LaMothe.
She graduated from Rice Memorial High School in 1971 and went on to receive an Associate's Degree in Business and Accounting from Champlain College. She was a lifelong businesswoman, owned and managed the Billado Warehouse Complex and was business partner with her husband, Gabriel Handy, working side by side with him in the hotel/hospitality business for the entirety of their married life.
Not only did Diane oversee the office work in her long career, but developed expertise in every area of her businesses. Diane was involved in every construction project from the ground up; from architectural design, to oversight of the construction sights right through to the completion of each project including landscaping. Diane had beautiful working relationships with each contractor with which she worked. It was the same with hotel personnel at every level. Diane cared about every person she worked with and took the time to listen to every one of them. For Diane, they were all her family. One need only see her incredible smile to know that you were special to her.
Diane lived her entire adult life in Colchester where she was actively involved in the community as a member of the Planning Commission (1985-1996) and as a member of the Colchester Select Board (1997-1999).
Diane's skill and creativity extended in many directions; from gardening with every type and color of flower and greenery to the most prolific vegetable gardens one has ever seen. In her kitchen Diane was an incredibly creative and adventurous cook who enjoyed nothing more than to serve delicious food to an overflowing table of family and friends. Her gift of hospitality was simply endless.
Diane leaves her beloved husband, Gabriel G. Handy; her step-daughter Darcy and her husband, Rick and their children, Jenna, Molly and Tyler; and her step-son Shawn and his wife Natalia and many members of the Handy family. She also leaves her siblings; Kim and wife Patty, Thomas and wife Betty, Andrew and wife Tanya, Christopher and wife Karina, Carolyn Ogren and husband John, Brian and wife Carolyn, William and wife Jeanne, and Daniel and wife Jill; twenty nieces and nephews and nine great nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.
Diane also leaves a circle of friends that includes people from every corner of her life. She considered every one of them her family, giving her time and her heart to each of them. And especially her lifelong friend and constant companion through her entire journey with cancer, Gail Dion and her husband, Roland.
Diane was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Benjamin; also by her late first husband, Jim Billado.
Visiting hours will be at LaVigne Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 132 Main Street, Winooski from 4-8pm on Friday July 7.
A Mass of Christian will be offered at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Colchester on Saturday, July 8 at 10am. Condolences may be shared at www.lavignefuneralhome.com.
For their tremendous devotion to Diane's care, the family asks that you consider donating to the McClure Miller VNA Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy, Colchester, VT 05446.
