Diana Peabody Bell (Deenie), age 84, died peacefully at home on October 30, 2023 in Concord, MA. Born on March 17, 1939 in Cambridge, MA to Nancy Winchester Jackson and Alfred Horatio Belo Peabody, she was raised in Dedham, MA, Lincoln, MA, and Marion, MA.
Deenie attended Dedham Country Day School in Dedham, MA, Beaver Country Day School in Newton, MA, Westover School in Middlebury, CT, and in 1961, graduated from Boston University with her BA in Education.
She married Thomas Stoughton Bell at St Julia Parish in Weston, MA in 1963. They moved to Lake Forest Academy in Illinois for a year, back to Weston, MA, and then settled in Groton, MA where they raised their family. In 1968 they built Seabelle, a cottage on Nantucket where they had 48 years of happy summers. Later in life they moved to Daufuskie Island, South Carolina, then back to Weston, and eventually to Newbury Court in Concord. In every home, Deenie enjoyed creating a welcoming environment for her family and friends.
Deenie taught second grade in Lincoln, MA and tutored children in English and reading. She worked in the flower business providing arrangements for weddings and other events in Groton, MA and Hilton Head Island, SC, where she became known as the flower lady at the Haig Point Club.
She volunteered in many different capacities including a Brownie troop leader, fundraising and parent committees at Applewild School, Lawrence Academy and Middlesex School, a hospice volunteer, and on flower committees at St Julia’s Church in Weston, Sacred Heart Church in Groton, MA, and Newbury Court.
Deenie was a member of the Groton Garden Club where she served as President for three years, the Weston Garden Club, the Sankaty Head Golf Club on Nantucket Island, the Haig Point Club on Daufuskie Island in South Carolina, Bear’s Paw Country Club in Naples, FL, and the Weston Golf Club.
Deenie loved skiing, tennis, golf, swimming, walking, reading, games, gardening, landscape design, needlework, and was an avid bridge player online and in several groups. She loved competing in flower arranging shows, as well as arranging flowers for weddings, holidays and friends. She especially enjoyed the many joyous times with family and friends on Nantucket. Most of all, she adored her family, grandchildren and large extended family. She counted her many blessings daily!
She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Thomas Stoughton Bell, daughter Louisa Bell Paushter and her husband Robert Brown Paushter of Concord, MA, son Thomas (Toby) Stoughton Bell, Jr. and his wife Vickie Caron Bell of Cumberland, ME, son Peter Alfred Bell of Stow, OH, sister Jill Peabody Sheelar-Uris of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and step sister Leeli Bonney of Meriden, NH. Her four grandchildren, Jackson Paushter of Boulder, CO, Annabelle Paushter of Concord, MA, Harrison Bell of Cumberland, ME, and Carson Bell of Cumberland, ME, also survive her, along with many nieces, nephews and their families. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Carol Peabody Southwell, and step-parents Barbara Ginn Deely and Francis Howes Gleason.
A funeral mass will be held on November 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Julia Parish, 374 Boston Post Rd, Weston, MA, followed by a luncheon at the Weston Golf Club, 275 Meadowbrook Rd, Weston, MA. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities USA or Boston Children’s Hospital.
Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, Concord, MA. To share a memory or offer a condolence visit: www.concordfuneral.com
