Diane Cole Watson, age 75, of Hull, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2021. Beloved wife of Jeffrey L. Watson.  Loving mother of Kimberly Anne Kingston, Esquire of Hull, Joshua A. Watson and his wife, Jill Ann Fitzsimmons of Greenfield, and loving Grandma of Robert "Bertie" Thaxter Fitzsimmons Watson.   Daughter of the late Walter A. and Doris (Murphy) Cole. Loving sister of Donna M. MacFarlane and her husband Joseph of Hull, the late Debra Cole-Epstein and her husband Michael Epstein of Ashfield, Denise E. Donnelly and her late husband Thomas (T.J.) of Franklin, Frank X. Cole of Roslindale, Joseph T. Cole and his wife Robin of Valrico, FL, and Walter E. Cole and his wife Maria of Franklin. She was "Auntie Di" to her many nieces and nephews, who she adored: Ariane, Mireille, Jake, Eli, Danielle, Jonathan, Fiona, Sean, and Alexis, and her "adopted" ones including Emily, Mara, Addie, and Skyler.

Originally from Dorchester, Diane loved her siblings and her extended family: her Barry and McGaffigan cousins. These three families, inclusive of her grandmother and grand aunt and uncle, occupied the traditional triple decker style multi-family home on Olney Street in Saint Peter's parish.

A lifelong student, Diane excelled academically and graduated as salutatorian from Monsignor Ryan Memorial  High School (MRM) in 1963, where she also received the prestigious Betty Crocker Homemakers of Tomorrow award in her home economics class. Opting for career over homemaker, she continued her education, earning her B.A. (Boston State University) and her M.A. (+60) (Bridgewater State University) in Education. Diane then worked tirelessly in the Boston Public School system for almost 40 years. She began as a elementary school teacher at the Mather School on Meetinghouse Hill in Dorchester and later became a dedicated school psychologist working at multiple K-12 schools throughout Boston.  She always loved, nurtured, and fought hard for all of her students.

She was a member of the Boston Teachers Union throughout her career and retirement.

Retirement did not end Diane's dedication to learning and actively serving her community. She was always an avid reader and passionate about education. She took advantage of many Osher Lifelong Learning Institution (OLLI) courses to continue to quench her thirst for knowledge. She became more involved in her church groups including the Spirit Sisters, a wonderful group of adventurous women friends, Circle Ministry, where she was able to  discuss a wide range of topics on the intellectual and spiritual spectrum, and as a member of the First Parish Carriage House Nursery School's (Cohasset) advisory board. Always giving back to her community, she was also a member of her Hall Estate Condominium Trustee's Board in Hull.

Diane loved to travel and opened a whole new world for her husband Jeff with many incredible international adventures in far-away places throughout their nearly 40 year marriage. Paris, however, was by far her favorite city in the entire world. Diane shared her love of Paris with her mother in her mother's later years with a special trip to the City of Light, just the two of them. She would also have another mother/daughter trip to Paris where she celebrated her daughter Kimberly's 40th birthday. Her last trip was with her husband on a barge canal trip through wine country, bringing them back to Paris one last time. Diane and Kim also took many other trips together, the most memorable being a getaway to Margarita Island off the coast of Venezuela. Mother and daughter had a "muy bueno tiempo" touring adventure there nearly 30 years ago where Diane was renamed Madre by the locals. She was then forever known as simply Madre to all of Kim's friends.

Diane and Jeff enjoyed sailing their small sailboat "Nepenthe" out of Spinnaker Island Marina on many journeys from Cape Cod to southern Maine for several years as well.

Diane had so many friends accumulated from way back as an elementary school student through all phases of her life.   She was always a true and loyal friend. She will be greatly missed by so many.

Donations may be made in her name to any local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

A celebration of Diane's life will be held later this year at her church, First Parish of Cohasset.