Diane T. Croteau

Diane T. Croteau (Paquette), 71, of Manchester, NH, passed away peacefully at her home August 9, 2023. She was surrounded by her family after a short, but aggressive clash with cancer.

Diane was born to the late Gerard Paquette and Doris Paquette in Maine. Although they moved several times during her childhood, from Maine to Massachusetts and finally settling in New Hampshire, her heart will always belong to the Maine coast. She graduated from Alvirne High School, then went on to train as an x-ray technician. She began her career as a radiology technician at Dartmouth Hitchcock in the early 1970s. She remained at Dartmouth her entire career, 38 years, before her retirement, rising through the ranks to become manager of the whole radiology department.

When she retired in 2011, many of her colleagues and employees remarked that they wished she would stay longer because of how much of an amazing boss she was.  She treated everyone fairly, with empathy and compassion.  She dedicated many hours outside of work on bettering herself as a manager by attending conferences and reading many books. 

She met her late husband Russell Croteau and they went on to have two children, Wendy and Lachlan. The family moved to Merrimack, NH, and after the kids were out of the house Diane and Russ moved once more to Manchester, NH as empty nesters. They had many great years before his passing in 2014.  

Diane is predeceased by her brother, Billy Paquette, her husband Russ, her parents Doris and Jerry, and brother-in-law, Gary Webster. She is survived by her daughter, Wendy Bergin and her husband Pat, and her son, Lachlan Croteau, as well as siblings Ken Paquette (Laraine), Connie Webster, Steve Paquette (Robin), Marie Miller (Blake), and several generations of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Her second family were the campers at Sunset Park, where you could find her every summer for the last 30 years. She loved going to the lake and sunning herself on the beach.  Her favorite thing was going to her next door neighbors with friends and family, who would cook, start a campfire, play games and generally entertain her. It was truly the best of times.  We are so grateful for the Sunset Park camp community for embracing our mom and loving her as their own.

Her favorite hobby was people watching. You could plop her in the middle of any busy place with lots of activity and she would be in heaven. At restaurants she would be so interested in what was happening at the table next to us that she would laugh along with them, even if none of us knew what she was laughing at. She would also want us to clarify that she was NOT nosy, just supremely interested in people.

Diane loved playing board games and didn't care who won or lost as long as she got to be part of the game. It was adorable when she did win because she was just as shocked as we were that she won a game. Like all her favorite activities, she was happiest when she got to connect with people.

And people opened up to her easily because she was such a good listener. They would open their souls to her as she wouldn’t try to solve their problems, but she would let them figure out their own solutions and be that sounding board that they might never have had. No problem was too big or too small to talk with her about.

Diane had an undying sense of fun and was quite the jokester who always looked on the bright side and looked for the best in people.

Her two children were her greatest joy and she would do anything for them - including taking multiple cruises even though she was extremely prone to seasickness.

Diane had a true capacity for unconditional love. That was especially obvious whenever a new animal came into the house - she wasn’t the one to feed them or clean their litter boxes, but every one of them bonded with her. She will be remembered for her kindness, loyalty, and generous nature. The world is a lot less bright without her.

Services will be Friday, August 25, 2023 at 12pm at Phaneuf Funeral Home located at 243 Hanover Street in Manchester. The family will hold a celebration of life immediately after at Murphy’s Taproom and Carriage House in Bedford NH.

In lieu of flowers, buy a loved one a dinner and truly listen and connect with them to honor Diane. Be kind, loving and patient with others, it is all we have in this world.