Diane F. Dodd

Respected business owner, cherished friend, amazing nana and wonderful mother and mother-in-law. Diane Florence Sullivan Dodd was all of these things and so much more. Affectionately known as Lady Di, Diane passed away after a long battle with cancer on October 15, 2024. She was 78 years-old.

Diane was born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1946 and grew up on Martha’s Vineyard and later on Sea Street in Hyannis, where she would live for more than seven wonderful decades. Known to her classmates as “Sully”, Diane was a proud member of the class of 1964 at Barnstable High School, where she also co-starred in her senior play “Harvey”. She was blessed with many friends including her “bestie” Cindy Tracy and her beloved sisters Mary Sullivan, Helen Rapoza and Phyllis Neal.

Diane married her Marine, Donny Sherman in 1964 and together they welcomed their son Todd into the world in 1965 with little brother Casey to follow in 1969.

Diane began her career as a hairdresser at the Beauty Nook in Hyannis and was the ‘go-to’ hair stylist for Ethel Kennedy and other members of the Kennedy family for major events at their Hyannis Port compound. In 1984, Diane would open her own salon called “Hair It Is” in Hyannis, which she owned for 40 years.

Diane always had a flair for fun and adventure. She and Donny moved to Mexico in the 1970’s with their two young boys in tow where they explored ancient pyramids and enjoyed a new culture. Her sons were everything to her. Diane volunteered as a den mother for the cub scouts and would pile the neighborhood kids into her car and take them to the mysterious watering hole known as Secret Pond, Trick or Treating around town and to Provincetown to watch Marvelous Marvin Hagler train for his fights. Her Hyannis home was always open to Todd and Casey’s many friends and she welcomed all of them with a hug, a smile and a great conversation.

Diane trained as a pilot while soaring over Cape Cod in a Cessna and also dabbled in art and TV production at Cape Cod Community College. She loved relaxing to the music of Carly Simon, rocking out to Janis Joplin tunes, reading a good mystery novel at Kalmus Beach and gathering with her friends at Baxter’s Boathouse.

Diane helped her son Todd open his first art gallery in Hyannis and also became a keen eyed editor for her son Casey’s best-selling books, including the maritime classic, The Finest Hours. She met and married the second love of her life, Ken Dodd, in 1995 and together they sailed the waters off Cape Cod and snowmobiled the trails of northern Maine with their cocker spaniel, Sammy, by their side.

Diane was most proud of her grandchildren, Isabella, Mia and Jack Sherman. She doted on her grandkids, taught them how to laugh and play and beamed with Nana pride at their accomplishments. She would drop everything she was doing if her girls needed her. When the sun was shining, Nana Di would tell Bella & Mia, “It’s a skip school day!” and drive them to the beach.

Last summer, while enjoying lunch by the ocean with her son Casey and her cherished daughter-in-law Kristin, Diane smiled and declared, “I have had a great life!” while raising a glass of her favorite pinot grigio.

She smiled and laughed until her last glorious day on earth.

Diane was predeceased by her son Todd Forrest Sherman, her daughter Susan Sherman, and her husbands’ Donny Sherman and Kenneth Dodd. She is survived by her son Casey Sherman and his wife, Kristin Sherman, of Marshfield, Massachusetts; her grandchildren Bella, Mia and their mother Laura Sherman of Marshfield, Massachusetts, her grandson Jack Sherman of Carmichael, California, her beloved big sister Helen Rapoza of Mashpee, Massachusetts; her brother-in-law Jimmy Sherman of Hyannis, Massachusetts, her sister Phyllis Neal of Naperville, Illinois; the extended Dodd-Taylor-Jennison families and her nephews Joe Rapoza, Paul Rapoza, Chris Neal, Matthew Neal, Mark Sullivan and her niece Suzy Larsen.

A celebration of Diane’s amazing life will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024 at 11am at Our Lady of Victory Parish located at 230 S Main St, Centerville, MA 02632. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the American Cancer Society.