Diantha Jane (Francis) Paré was born September 27, 1929 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and passed away in Oberlin, Ohio on June 21, 2024. A short memorial service will take place Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. at ORUUC with a casual reception to follow. All are welcome to come and celebrate their lives.
Diantha graduated from Cornell University in 1950 in Home Economics (as it was called then) with an emphasis on Early Childhood Development. She later received her MS in Special Education in 1968 from UT. Diantha married Vic Paré in 1950 and they moved to Oak Ridge. They were married a loving 66 years (Vic passed in 2017). Diantha taught Special Education in the Oak Ridge Schools from 1969-1987, but her service/care for Oak Ridge was so much bigger than that. The list of the groups she volunteered with would take another page. Some highlights were her involvement with the League of Women Voters (president, state board, other posts), Tennesseans for Fair Taxation, chair of the Reconciliation Group for the Friendship/Peace bell that hangs in the Bissell Park, part of the founding board for the Sallie McCaskill Scholarship fund, and program director for the first local Head Start program in 1965.
On June 21, 1998, the City declared Diantha Paré Day to celebrate her many contributions to Oak Ridge. Diantha and Vic both volunteered for ADFAC for 20 years. I am sure that everyone who reads this can think of something that Diantha did to better her community. In 2009, Diantha and Vic moved to Oberlin, Ohio and lived there in a continuing care community, near their daughter, Suzy. A lovely memorial service was held for Diantha in September 2024 at the local Unitarian Fellowship and at Kendal at Oberlin, attended by friends and many family members.
While living in Oak Ridge, Diantha was very involved in the local Unitarian Church and served on many committees, one of which created the Memorial Garden for church members. It is fitting that she and Vic will have their ashes interred there.
Diantha is survived by daughter Suzy (Cleveland, Ohio), son Steve (Houston, TX) and granddaughter Leah (Queens, NY). In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to ADFAC or the Sallie McCaskill Scholarship Fund.