Diane Pearse

Diane was a bloom of friendliness. The fun-loving wife, warm-hearted mom, and novel grandmother loved laughing, being in nature and sharing treasures.

A good morning for Diane never started too early, she had a knack for sleeping in. Her favorite morning spot was on the porch of her mountain-side home in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Nestled among tall stands of pine, she loved the quiet beauty of nature. As the sun filtered through the trees, she would sit surrounded by her beautifully potted flowers, sip on coffee, listen to birds chirp, and breathe fresh mountain air. She loved simple pleasures. When visiting her sister Gail’s house, she would hold a single flower to her nose and delight in the fragrance for hours.

Diane had a unique sense of making things special, particularly when it came to antiquing—a lifelong pursuit. She never passed on a garage or estate sale, and relished in finding a bargain to spruce up and then sell for a fun profit. Her curated booth at the antique mall was a hobby that brought her endless fun and new friends. She would whistle while she worked, literally, and loved laughing and gabbing with the ladies.

Her easy-going and smiling nature made Diane a quick friend. Her laugh was infectious and a badge of her joyful soul. Di never wanted to miss a good time and was always up for a glass of wine, or a cold beer, maybe a classic gin & tonic with fresh lime, perhaps a margarita (no salt), and certainly a stinger for a night cap. She noted that free drinks always tasted best. Never shy on the dance floor, Di could cut a rug. Not even two knee replacements kept her from busting a move.

Diane enriched and brightened the lives of those around her, and she crafted a wonderful life for her family. She was born on the Ides of March of 1948 in Rochester, New York to Will and Marie Westfall. Diane was the second of four blue-eyed siblings (Gail Westfall, David Westfall, Cindy Schram), and raised in the suburb of Penfield where she met her husband, Warren “Trip” Pearse III. On their first date, Trip & Di went to a Beach Boys concert and their life together has been a celebration ever since.

The couple married on July 15, 1972 and cheerfully raised three sons, Travis, Colin and Nathan. As a mom, Diane sewed homemade Halloween costumes, hand illustrated invitations for themed birthday parties, became a fearless Cub Scout Den Mother, a cheering sports fan, and the photographer for the Penfield High School football and lacrosse teams. As a wife and partner, Di was endlessly dedicated. Her support was unwavering. She was part super glue, keeping everyone and everything together, and part WD-40, keeping everything working smoothly.

Diane enjoyed being active, she played tennis in the summer and paddle in the winter. Fun and games were right up her alley too. She was quietly competitive and might even cheat here and there to get the upper hand in a boardgame. On multiple occasions she arm wrestled her granddaughters…and she won!

Throughout her battle with pancreatic cancer, Diane was magnificent. When she passed away in the comfort of hospice care on May 15, 2022, she demonstrated the strength we’ll need to carry on without her. Surviving Diane are her husband Trip Pearse, sons Travis (Eileen) Pearse, Colin (Kathleen) Pearse, and Nathan (Tuesday) Pearse, and grandchildren Carter, Mary and Maggie Pearse. Flowers brought Diane much joy, but a cure to pancreatic cancer would have made her even more happy. In lieu of flowers, you’re encouraged to donate at pancan.org.

Diane didn’t take things for granted and always added a special touch. We’ll miss her happy smile, robust laugh, clever sense of humor, sincere goodness, boundless creativity, overly long but entertaining stories, catch phrases “Aw Jeez” and “Shut up, Trip…you asshole”, her habit of always running late, turtlenecks as the cornerstone of her wardrobe, occasional outbursts of profanity, and even her always overcooked roast beef.

Diane and her life will be celebrated on Friday, June 10, from 6–8 at The Cremation Gardens, 5303 East County Line Road, Centennial, Colorado. The family plans to share favorite stories of Diane from 6:30–7:30 and hopes you will participate. Toasts are enthusiastically encouraged and beverages will be served. There will be an additional celebration of Diane later this summer in Rochester, New York. Details to be shared once confirmed. Visit DianePearse.com for more information and updates.

Please bring a smile and laughter. Life should be fun and full of happiness. Thank you, Diane, for showing us how it’s done.