Obituary of Diane B. Blair

Cohoes – Diane V. Bourgeois Blair, 73, passed away at Van Rensselaer Manor, Troy on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 after a long-suffering battle with COPD and emphysema. She was predeceased by her parents P. Joseph and Aline Bourgeois. Diane was educated at the former St. Joseph's School and Keveny Memorial Academy both of Cohoes. Upon graduation in 1961, she was employed at the Dept. of Civil Service until 1969 when she left to raise her family. She returned to the work force after 11 years and was employed by the NY State Police as a purchasing agent in their crime laboratory, until her retirement in 2005. She was a communicant of the former St. Joseph's Church, Cohoes and then at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Waterford where she also performed as a lector and Eucharistic Minister. Diane loved singing and sang with the Silvertops and the River Valley Chapter of the Sweet Adeline's where they formed a quartet call The Noteable 4, where she met her good and lasting friend of the family Audrey Mosher. She was also a member of the Cohoes Red Hats. She played the trumpet in high school and taught herself to play the ukulele. She was an outstanding athlete. Diane enjoyed swimming, softball, bowling and golf. She was an expert downhill skier and taught skiing with the former Uncle Sam Ski Club. She enjoyed cross-country skiing. Diane also enjoyed going on numerous bus trips with David. (The magnets on the refrigerator will attest to that). She is survived by her loving husband, David of 49 years of Cohoes and their two daughters, Nancy (Krist) Gates of Palm Harbor, FL and Carolyn Kingsley of Dunedin, FL and 3 grandchildren; Sierra Kingsley of Halfmoon, Tyler and Dakota Gates of Palm Harbor, FL. Diane was also predeceased by her sister M. Suzanne (William "Skip") Howe and is survived by her sisters Pauline Bourgeois of Dunedin, FL, Albina (Wilfred "Butch") Grignon of the Villages, FL; and Monica (Denny) Bouchard of Punta Gorda, FL. We would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to the staff, nurses and aides at Van Rensselaer Manor (VRM) for the loving and compassionate care they gave Diane. A big Thank You also to Hospice who tried to keep her as comfortable and pain free as possible. The funeral will be held on Monday, September 25, 2017 9:30am at St. Mary the Assumption Church, Waterford where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the DUFRESNE FUNERAL HOME, Inc., 216 Columbia Street, Cohoes on Sunday from 2 to 5pm. Those who wish to remember Diane in a special way may donate to St. Mary of the Assumption Church Restoration Fund or Catholic Relief Services. "Tell your father we didn't have to eat snowballs! "I love you, I love you, I love you. LYMY. See ya soon!