Sr. Diane Gillis, DHS
January 27, 1943 – May 2, 2024
Sr. Diane Gillis, 81, Daughters of the Holy Spirit, entered life eternal on Thursday May 2, 2024 at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, CT.
Diane was born in Washington DC on January 27, 1943, 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, CT, Sr. Diane ministered in schools in Vermont, Bridgeport CT, Moosup CT and Chicopee, MA as 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, CT. 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 and lent a helping hand in transporting sisters to local and at a distance appointments. 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.
Calling hours will be on Tuesday May 7, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Corpus Christi Parish/St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic, CT with a prayer service at 10:15 AM. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 AM followed by burial in St. Mary Cemetery in Putnam at 2:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to DHS Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 497, Putnam, CT 06260. The Gilman Valade Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, CT is in charge of arrangements.
REST IN PEACE, DIANE, AS THE ANGELS LEAD YOU INTO PARADISE.
