Diane Mae Degnan, devoted to veterans
Diane Mae Degnan, nee Hazen, passed away peacefully, Sunday, June 25, 2017, surrounded by her family.
Born in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1930 to Frank and Gertrude (Spannegal) Hazen, she was a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, and earned an associate degree in business administration from Excelsior College.
She served her country in the U.S. Air Force, graduating from OCS in 1955 as the Military Honor Graduate, attaining the rank of first lieutenant before leaving the Air Force to start her family.
Diane worked in New York City and its environs as an employee benefits consultant for Connecticut General and Hirschfeld, Stern, Moyer & Ross before retiring in 1992 and moving to New Bern, N.C.
Diane was an avid golfer and bridge player and is a past president of the local ladies golf association. She especially enjoyed her beloved N.Y. Times crossword puzzles.
She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and served a term as regent of the Richard Dobbs Speight chapter in New Bern. As a member of the American Legion, she deeply cared about veterans, and was included in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2015.
Diane was a proud supporter and founding member of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, and present at the opening at Arlington National Cemetery in 1997.
Diane was celebrated for her generosity, caustic wit and remarkable intellect. She will be missed by her former bridge partners, golf foursomes and her many neighbors and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald W. Degnan (major, USAF).
She is survived by sister Frances Hilal and her husband Hashem of Petoskey, Mich.; children Denise Clemons and husband Jack of Lewes, David Degnan and his wife Lee of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Donald H. Degnan and his wife Jessica Ingrum of Glassboro, N.J.; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, 2 Memorial Ave., Arlington, VA, 22202, or the American Legion, Post 539, 1125 Pine Tree Drive, New Bern, NC, 28562.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 29, at Cotten Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends at Cotten Funeral Home one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Barbara Bornemann, chaplain at Continuum Home Health and Hospice.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.cottenfuneralhome.com.
