Diane Rouleau Walsh

On March 13, 2024 Diane Rouleau Walsh, 72, of Manchester, New Hampshire began the next leg of her journey. There was no pain in the transition. The whole medical scene with its attendant poking, prodding, testing and measuring had simply become a bore. It was time for a new adventure.

Diane was born September 24, 1951 in Sherbrooke, P. Q., Canada to the late Robert and Jeannine (Desautel) Rouleau. She moved to the states as a child when her family relocated first to Tupper Lake, New York and later to North Stratford and Colebrook, New Hampshire. She attended school in Colebrook and was a 1969 graduate of Our Lady of Grace Academy. It was during her high school years that Diane met Tom beginning their life-long friendship.

Some years later while living in Connecticut in 1977, Diane and Tom were married. In 1978 they moved to Manchester where they would settle, raise a family, reconnect with old friends and begin developing many new friendships that endure to this day.

For many years Diane reveled in following Todd and Whitney's myriad sports teams and other activities and to no one's surprise she was a vocal fan of the children she loved so dearly. She also had many interests of her own. She enjoyed skiing and was always ready to travel and explore new places. She was a voracious reader and amassed a huge collection of books. An unabashed dog lover, she owned and thoroughly spoiled eight canine friends over the years, many of them adopted or rescued from various shelters.

In her working life Diane spent twenty years as administrative assistant to the presidents of two small Manchester companies. In that role she operated as a true person Friday handling all manner of tasks and assignments from accounts receivable to planning company meetings and functions and, of course, she was the designated babysitter for the boss's pets. Her strong work ethic made her a valuable asset. Previewing the resilient spirit that enabled her to fight so hard these past few years, Diane survived a cancer diagnosis in 2000 and bounced back from radiation treatments, surgery and chemotherapy returning to work full time sooner than predicted.

Diane leaves her friend, husband and companion Tom and the two children she adored, Todd Merrill and wife Caroline of Portsmouth and Whitney McFarlin and husband Reid of Greenville, South Carolina. She was also a loving Nan to her three beautiful grandchildren, Jane and Rose Merrill and Finn McFarlin. Diane is also survived by two sisters, Micheline Lambert and husband Bruno of Bedford and Francoise Johnson and husband Scott of Newmarket; two brothers, Peter Rouleau and wife Nancy of North Stratford and Serge Rouleau and wife Diane of Port Orange, Florida; brother-in-law, Mark Walsh and wife Renee of Bedford and sister-in-law Kerry Ruiz and husband David of Pasadena, Maryland; her many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends and her friend and caregiver Dawn Johnson of Manchester. In addition, to her parents, Diane was predeceased by two brothers, Jacques and Denis Rouleau and a sister, Judy Erbacher.

While those of us closest to her are struggling to imagine a world devoid of this brightest of lights, we are resolved to do what we can to keep the light shining in our hearts beginning with the celebration of a life so very well lived at a time and place to be announced soon.

There are no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Diane's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, MA/NH Chapter, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460 or Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Road, Merrimack, NH 03054.

Assisting with arrangements is the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, Manchester. To view Diane's online tribute, send condolences to her family, or for more information, visit https://csnh.com