Diane E. Whelton
Animal Lover, Active With Greyhound Rescue
A Funeral Service was celebrated in the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood, Home for Funerals on August 22, for Diane E. (Baxter) Whelton, 71, who died on Wednesday, August 16, at the Winchester Rehab & Nursing Center in Winchester following a long illness. Interment was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
Diane was born on June 7, 1952 in Chelsea to the late Julius and Blanche (McKay) Baxter.
She, along with her two brothers, were raised and educated in Everett. Diane was a graduate of Everett High School, Class of 1970.
She worked in retail at The Jordan Marsh Company.
During this time, she met her husband, David Whelton and they were married on January 3, 1976. Her husband was an active-duty military officer and they traveled for a brief time, before relocating back to Everett.
Diane happily welcomed her daughter and son and was a proud and loving mother. She later returned to the workforce and as a retail manager for The Hallmark Stores. Her career spanned nearly 20 years.
Diane loved listening to music, dancing, and having fun wherever she went. She loved animals and was a rescuer for Greyhound dogs.
She was the beloved wife of 39 years to the late David A. Whelton, Sr., the loving mother of Gwen E. Gustafson and her husband, Eric of Lynn and the late David A. Whelton, Jr.; the cherished grandmother of Kristen E. Bitaraes and her husband, Macksuel of No. Reading, Jake D. Gomez of No. Reading and Savannah D. Gomez of Lynn; adored great grandmother of Maverick David and the dear sister of Kenneth Baxter and his wife, Verna and John Baxter and his wife, Nora. She is also lovingly survived by her bestie and first cousin Helen Gray and Steven Albano, whom she considered to be her “second son” and by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, friends, and extended family. To greet her at the rainbow bridge was her late fur babies: Gypsy, Haskell, Nina, and Pumpkin. Remembrances may be made to The MSPCA – Angell Attn: Donations 350 South Huntington Ave. Boston, MA 02130.
To send online condolences, please visit ww.vertucciosmithvazza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals.