Dianne Dupuis

Dianne Cecile Dupuis, nee Gibouleau, passed away peacefully in her home on August 22, 2024 with her loving husband of 64 years at her side. Dianne was born on January 29, 1942 in Ludlow, MA and was the only child of Edward F. and Lucienne L. Gibouleau. Dianne was an “army brat” who had many unique experiences during the post WWII era while living across the globe. At age 5, she traveled by bus with her mother to disembark by ship from San Francisco to Osaka, Japan. There, they lived on a military Army base during the Korean War. After quickly learning some of the Japanese language, Dianne would help translate for her mother to aid communication with locals. Dianne was sometimes tasked with caring for her father’s mischievous pet monkey, despite this not being her favorite pet.

Dianne and her parents later lived in Munich, Germany. She made friends with other Americans and an Austrian girl her same age. Together they explored the German country-side and experienced the immense aftermath of World War II. Alas, Dianne moved with her family back to the USA, residing in Pennsylvania Amish country, Washington State, and finally, back to Massachusetts. For a time, they lived on George’s Island near Boston. Later, Dianne settled back home in Three Rivers where she reunited with her large extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Dianne attended Palmer High School and was an excellent student and basketball player. It was here, as a P.H.S. Junior, that Dianne met Robert “Bob” Dupuis on a blind date. They formed a bond as high school sweethearts and never looked back. They married soon after graduating high school. While living in their home on Main St in Three Rivers, together they raised a family of four children: Kathleen, Corinne, Lynn, and Robert “Bobby”. They later moved to their home of 39 years in Palmer, where Dianne enjoyed many happy holidays and special gatherings over the years while entertaining friends and family.

Dianne focused on being a homemaker and raising the children until they were elementary school age. During this busy period, she somehow made the time to serve as a Girl Scout Leader. This required the masterful art of finding an annual hiding spot for stacks of tempting Girl Scout cookies, tucked away from the family known for its sweet tooth! Dianne also volunteered at St. Anne’s Church and the Palmer Public Library where she taught English. Dianne was a wonderful cook and baker, known for her array of pies, especially the “best lemon meringue pie on the planet” according to her son.

Once the children reached middle school, Dianne worked hard to excel in diverse work experiences and was a lifelong learner. She started as a Food Basket cashier in Palmer, advancing to head cashier in the front office. Later, she worked in payroll at the Monson Developmental Center, where after attending specialized classes she advanced to the role of a Pharmacy Tech. During that time, she competed for a state education grant for nursing; she was one of two selected out of many applicants for a full scholarship where she excelled as a student at S.T.C.C. The highlight of her career was becoming a Registered Nurse after passing her nursing license exam. Her nursing professional experience included Monson Developmental Center, UMass Medical Center

cardiology unit in Worcester, and several local nursing homes including Hampton Hills and Lifecare/Wingate where she was promoted to charge nurse. Dianne found fulfillment in providing comfort and care to all she served, especially the elderly. When bedside nursing work became too physically demanding later in her career, Dianne transitioned to administrative nursing responsibilities, becoming an expert Minimum Data Set coordinator to provide the highest level of patient care to the residents she served. Throughout her nursing career, she was devoted to patient comfort, dignity and social well-being. Friends and those she mentored professionally described her as one of the kindest people they ever met.

Dianne’s hobbies included facilitating successful fundraisers at her local church and playing Whist and Bingo. She was an avid reader of a good mystery novel. Dianne was humble and quietly yet fiercely competitive, with a little spark of playful mischief added! She enjoyed board games with her children and was especially competitive in ScrabbleTM - sneaking in as many two letter words the board allowed to gain those few extra points! She loved spending time near the ocean with friends and family; this included beaches in York, Maine and Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Dianne and Bob especially enjoyed spending time in their winter getaway home of 30 plus years in the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island, Florida area. Dianne was kind to all creatures big and small, and enjoyed the simple pleasures in life such as feeding birds, squirrels, and stray animals. One of her favorite pastimes was to take in the splendor of the fall foliage during a family drive in Western Massachusetts.

In July 1990, Dianne was credited with helping to save a young woman’s life in a front page story in the Springfield Union news. While on her way to work she happened upon a serious car crash and stopped to provide first response to the injured. One woman had multiple injuries and a long recovery ahead, but she went on to have a fulfilling life raising a family and running a travel business with her husband. True to her nature, Dianne was reluctant to accept credit for her efforts, saying “at a time like that, you just do what you have to do.”

In addition to Dianne’s loving husband and four children, she will be deeply missed by her eight grandchildren: Rachel, Jason, Brianne, Michelle, Bobby, Jillian, Janaki, and Lakshmi, step grandchildren Lauren and Dan, step great grandchild Eliza, and her three beloved great grandchildren: “PJ”, Emory, and Parker.

In keeping with her wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held. Family and friends will gather on Friday September 6th promptly at 2:00pm at the ‘Tables at the Farm’ restaurant on Route 181 in Palmer, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dianne’s honor to Dakin Animal Shelter or the M.S.P.C.A.