Diane M. Merrill

Mendon- Diane M. Merrill

Diane M. Merrill 69, died unexpectantly Wednesday March 19, 2025 at Rutland Regional Medical Center after a four-month courageous battle with an aggressive acute myeloid leukemia.

She was born January 9, 1956 in Rutland the daughter of Raymond and Eunice (Shirlock) Merrill.

Diane was a graduate of Whitcomb High School class of 1974.  She furthered her education and received an Associate Degree in Computer Science from Champlain College in 1976.  She worked in data entry at Killington Ski Resort, Smoky House Project in Danby, several banks in the Boston area and at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Montpelier.  For the last 15 years she was a devoted caregiver to her mother.

As a young girl growing up in Pittsfield, Diane developed her lifetime love of animals-cats, dogs and horses.  She was given a horse by her future sister-in-law Ginny’s family and proudly named him Starbuck.  She spent many hours riding that horse until it came time to go to college and she let him go to another family

After college, Diane was a regular in the social life of Killington Ski Area.  She developed many friends and was loved by many. She had the reputation among locals as a skilled mogul skier and always had her trademark red bandana tied around her thigh.  She enjoyed cooking, specially making Italian meals with her own scratch spaghetti sauce.  She loved fishing with her father, especially at McIntosh Pond in South Royalton, rode a Triumph motorcycle, often in NH so she could go without the helmet, spent hours snowmobiling, and enjoyed bingo.

Her family remembered how she always made her famous baked corn for family holidays and how she went to a great effort to decorate for Halloween, as it was a favorite holiday.  Her decorations included lights and scary music and the house quickly became known in the neighborhood as the “spooky house”.  She loved watching the trick or treaters approach the house, sometimes hesitantly.  This past fall, despite failing health, she was determined to decorate.  The decorations were smaller than usual but she still did it.

Diane always had a large assortment of clothing and was quick to offer items to family and friends.  Her nephew recalled her animal print leggings and her love for American eagles, including the eagle tattoo she got soon after 9/11.  He also enjoyed going fishing with her when he visited.  He shared a story of sleeping in the unheated upstairs of her rental house in Gaysville and “nearly freezing to death”.  His wife shared that when she first was meeting his family, Diane took her aside and asked if she liked vintage clothing.  She was given a bag of assorted items that she loved.  This simple act made her feel welcomed to the family.

Diane absolutely loved yard sales and could not pass one without stopping, especially if it had a free pile.  If she was in the car, she would yell “yard sale” and it was expected that you stopped and looked around.  Her brother-in-law George was always willing to get out and look with her.  Any shopping that landed her a good deal was a success!

When she and her mother moved to Mendon in 2010, Diane grew a green thumb and enjoyed both inside and outside planting.  She loved mowing the lawn and was known to do it more than once a week as riding the mower around brought her happiness.  She had an extensive collection of wind chimes and lawn ornaments and enjoyed soaking in her pool (“it’s called therapy you know”).

Diane deeply wanted another cat after the loss of her last one so she was given Yoda by her friend Lisa.  While few others can pick up that cat, Diane and Yoda had a very special bond and it showed when they rubbed noses.  One of her last wishes was that we take care of Yoda when she was gone.

Diane loved her family deeply and she treasured all family gatherings.  She was tender hearted, generous with her time and deeply protective of all she cared about.  And she always had a cookie in her Tweety Bird cookie jar for when they were needed.

She is survived by her Mother and sister Jan Sotirakis of Rutland, by her brother Denny and wife Ginny of Florida, her brother Randy and wife Laura of Proctor, her nephew Josh Merrill of Pittsfield, his daughters Hannah and her husband Eric and their children Ellie and Everleigh of Wells and Olivia Merrill of Castleton and their mother Michelle Merrill of Tunbridge, her niece Jessica Lehman of Chittenden, her children Hunter and Violet and their father Kyle Lehman and her nephew Justin and his wife Traci of Rutland and their children Charlie and Piper.  She also leaves her Aunt Margery Hatch of Orange NH and many cousins.  And we can not forget her beloved cat, Yoda.

She was predeceased by her father and by brother-in-law, George Sotirakis.

Per her wishes there will be no public service at this time

Memorial contributions may be made to The Feline Connection PO Box 567 Rutland VT 05702 www.thefelineconnection.org or to Chittenden Volunteer Fire Department 266 Chittenden Road, Chittenden VT 05737.

When told by Dr. Alan Eisemann, of the Foley Cancer Center that she had little time left, she briefly cried then while smiling, reached up to shake his hand and said “thank you for doing everything you could to help me”.  Her sister deeply appreciated the caring that the ED nurses showed and the outstanding support of Maria, Pamela and Porsche on the fifth floor.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home.