Sr. Diane Gillis, 81, a member of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit, passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham.
Born in Washington DC on January 27, 1943, Diane Cecilia was the oldest of 13 children of Richard P. and Bernice (Kitzman) Gillis. She entered religious life in 1961 and made her religious profession on June 1, 1962. She was then known as Sr. Anne Cecilia.
After receiving her B.A. in education from Diocesan Teachers College in Woodstock, Sr. Diane ministered in schools in Vermont, Bridgeport, Moosup, and Chicopee, MA as a teacher, librarian, and school secretary. From 1975 until 1990 Diane was involved in parish ministry in VT and FL, particularly in the Spanish apostolate in Chicopee, MA, Holyoke, MA, and Hartford. From 1990 to 1998 she worked as an insurance reviewer at Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital in Springfield, MA after which she joined the community at the Provincial House in Putnam and served as the receptionist there. She joined the community at St Joseph Living Center in 2019.
Sr. Diane is survived by the Daughters of the Holy Spirit spiritual family – her Sisters in community, the Consecrated Seculars, and the Associates. She is also survived by her sisters Joan and Mary; her brothers Richard, Michael, William, Steven, Joseph, Christopher, Thomas, James, and Robert, all in Florida and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Sandra.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Corpus Christi Parish/St. Joseph Church, Willimantic, followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam.
Donations may be made to DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260.
For the memorial guestbook please visit GilmanAndValade.com.