Diane Laura Sullivan of Boca Raton, FL, formerly of Milton, passed away on December 29, 2024. Pretty, Popular Diane… described this graduate in her Milton High School yearbook. Her classmates knew her well. Diane Laura “Besti” Sullivan married and is survived by her high school sweetheart and beloved husband James Michael Sullivan (Pops), cherished daughter of the late Irene (Colin) and Arthur H. Hansen, loving sister to Sandra Irene (Sandy) Tully, Lawrence Arthur Hansen and his wife Karen, and the late Nils Peter Hansen. Mother of 5 children, Pamela Jean Sullivan, Nancy Irene Farrow and her husband Brian, Susan Diane Smith, Heidi Marie Regan and her husband Edward and James Michael Sullivan, Jr. and his wife Mandy. Besti to 12 grandchildren, Jacqueline Irene Wehrli and her husband Andrew, Sean Michael Moriarty and his wife Jess, Laura Carolyn Farrow, Haleigh Louise Lombardi and her husband Michael, Tyler Nils Smith, CJ Smith, Austin Charles Smith, Dianna Marie Regan, Tommy Edward Regan, Jill Diane Sullivan, Samuel Richard Sullivan and Madison Iris Sullivan. Great Grandmother to Ella Diane Wehrli, James Andrew Wehrli and Vaughn Tyler Lombardi. Jim and Diane built an extraordinary life together that both included and revered family and friends. They drove off on an adventure in a VW Convertible in the early 80s and discovered southern Florida where they wrote a second chapter. They were members of Wollaston Golf Cub in Milton and Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club in Boca Raton, FL.
Diane grew up in a loving extended Norwegian family with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, with whom she was very close. Over the years the family grew; adding spouses, great nieces and great nephews, all cherished by Besti. She devoted herself to her family and friends, attending numerous Colin family reunions over the years, celebrating a rich heritage. She traveled to Norway and to Ireland, exploring family roots. She was ever moving and ever social; birthdays, graduations and weddings were celebrated with a flourish. Besti and Pops hosted many celebrations in Milton, Florida, at the Cape and in Boston. The Sopranos, America’s Funniest Home Videos, and American Idol were not just TV shows, they were events.
She enjoyed many cruises and trips with friends and family around the world, she played in numerous golf tournaments and she always enjoyed Sunday brunches at the Club. She knit scarves and blankets for everyone, she was a car enthusiast who enjoyed driving her red car around town and she spent many evenings at Fenway Park.
She maintained strong friendships and traveled through life with many circles of friends in addition to the amazing friends found among the members at Wollaston and Royal Palm. She treasured the company of the high school girls, the parents of the Parkwood Players, the lunch bunch ladies and the nine holers.
Besti discovered that she had ALS earlier in 2024. She had superlative care and support during this difficult year and she died peacefully surrounded by family.
Family and friends are welcome to visiting hours from 10 to 11 AM at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church 916 Main Street in Hingham on Friday, January 3rd followed by a funeral service at 11 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Diane’s memory may be made to the Jimmy Fund via jimmyfund.org/gift or the Norwell VNA via nvna.org.