Adeline Dianna Frost Underhill died peacefully on July 4, 2025 at the age of 83 after a brief illness. A South Louisianan through and through, Dianna was born in New Orleans, spent her formative years in Baton Rouge and Crowley, raised a family in Eunice, and returned to Baton Rouge to start a new chapter with her husband, Lee. She graduated from Baton Rouge High School and LSU. A lifelong teacher, she brought the opportunity of education to scores of elementary students, primarily in Eunice, Branch, and as a homebound teacher throughout Acadia Parish. Upon retirement, she found great meaning in leading an adult learning center for LSU employees who wanted to earn a GED or further skills such as English or reading.
Her parents imbued her with love for the waterways of South Louisiana, Southern cooking, and travel. She took up painting in the last decade, becoming a prolific watercolorist, and dabbling in acrylics. A lifelong United Methodist, Dianna and her parents were charter members of St. John’s UMC in Baton Rouge, where, in retirement, she was active in the choir and The Shepherd’s Market food pantry.
Several communities of women anchored her throughout life, including “The Group”—seven graduates of Baton Rouge High School whose lives were interwoven for nearly 70 years—and her “yoga buddies” who regularly lunched after their classes.
Her family grounded her, and they celebrate the gift of her life, even as they mourn her loss. She leaves her husband of 25 years, Lee Underhill of Baton Rouge, her sons, Bobby Matt (Cherie) of Iowa, LA, Lynd Matt (Brett) of New York, NY, and Lee’s daughters Michele Smith (Jess) of Lillington, NC, and Marilyn Rankin of Celebration, FL. She also leaves 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence N. Frost, Sr. and Adeline E. Frost, as well as her brother, Lawrence N. Frost, Jr.
All are invited to celebrate Dianna’s life at a memorial service to be held on Friday, July 18 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street in Baton Rouge. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM, followed by the service at 1:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made in Dianna’s memory to The Shepherd’s Market of St. John’s UMC, Baton Rouge. Gifts can be made online at stjohnsbr.org/give; (select “The Shepherd's Market” fund), or checks can be made out to "The Shepherd's Market," and mailed to St. John's United Methodist Church, 230 Renee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.
