Dianne Parent

ST. ALBANS - Dianne Gabrielle Parent, age 69, passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2024 at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington from cancer. No one was as surprised to see this free spirit get sick in May as her husband, Leonard Parent.

She was born in St. Albans on March 24, 1955 to the late George & Rita (Rainville) Parent. Dianne was a middle child with 13 siblings. In addition to her parents, Dianne was predeceased by her siblings, Doris Parent, and Anthony "Tony" Parent; and brothers-in-law, Sven Swanson, and Christopher Stimpson.

Her relative height earned her the nickname Legs. Legend has it she wasn't sent to boarding school for nothing and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Newport, Vermont in 1973. She was curious about everything and had a home library to show for it. In addition to trying out painting and Tai Chi this winter, she enjoyed taking online Spanish classes and was receiving messages from her yoga group right up to the end. In her short hospital stay, she was perusing the Seven Days paper to learn about upcoming events. She collected many things and loved anything with zebra stripes. She was generous with her time, treasures and talents. She enjoyed driving older friends to visit one another.

Legs walked thousands of steps each day, logging these on a Fitbit she was given as a part of a UVM health study. She chartered her own course across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. She had her sights set on visiting Antarctica and certainly would have brought a copy of the County Courier for proof. She was a regular walker around St. Albans where she appreciated flowers, gardens and easily made friends with strangers along her way. Her clothing, costumes and the color of her hair opened the doors to many conversations. The hospital staff members loved her pink hair!

Dianne was a fun and adventurous mother, but she perfected these qualities as a grandmother. Gogo will be missed by her 6 grandchildren, Isabelle and Alexander Parent of Reading, Massachusetts and Posie, Edie, Julie and Rita Romweber of Schwarzenbach, Germany.

She lived a physical life of hauling packages, plunging into freezing waters and swimming so far from shore her children would get nervous. L.J. and Emily (Larose) Parent and Erikalynn (Parent) and John Romweber will miss her spirit beyond measure.

Dianne believed kids needed places to play and make noise. She still liked to play and make noise herself. She maintained a childlike joie de vivre throughout her life.

Left to reminisce about her too-short life are her many siblings, Robert Parent (Diane) , Patricia Keefe (James), David Parent (Susan), Alan Parent, Denise Messier (Gale), Gloria Parent, Norman Parent (Pamela), Rene Parent (Melissa), Marcel Parent (Betsey), Martha Magnant (Timothy), and Gisele Stimpson.

Friends & family are invited to Dianne's life celebration to include visitation from 5-8:00 PM on Monday, July 15, 2024 at the Goss-Spears Life Celebration Home, 96 Dickinson Avenue, Enosburg Falls, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Lake St., St. Albans, VT. Interment will follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Enosburg Falls.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of their choice.

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com