Dianne Catherine Bacon

Dianne overcame many challenges in her early childhood that would have discouraged achievement and squelch a weaker person’s spirit, but she overcame them all, graduated with honors at Northeastern University and led a full and satisfying life and career.

Beyond her significant scholastic achievements, in her spare time at college she managed to totally infatuate her future husband, Ken, who only had to wait four short years to have their first date. They were married one year later and remained together for 45 more, with Ken being at her bedside along with one of their sons in her final hours.

Dianne was in the medical field her whole working life, beginning in the ER admitting patients at Beth Israel hospital in Boston, then becoming a pacemaker technician and research associate at the same hospital.

She segued to Newton-Wellesley hospital in Newton, MA in the middle of her career, working in the PACU, then as the assistant to the head of the Anesthesia department. She was named Employee of the Year and Most Valuable Administrator during her tenure at NWH.

Dianne and Ken moved to Las Vegas in 2007, where she spent the last ten years of her career working as an administrator at Mike O'Callaghan Medical Center at the Nellis Air Force base. She worked with the annual incoming class of residents and interns to set up her “kids” for success. During her employment she was named Civilian Employee of the Quarter twice and was awarded two Coins of Excellence by the Base Commander.

Dianne was raised by the Greek side of her family, so she identified as Greek throughout her life. It was during her residence in Las Vegas that Dianne reconnected with her faith and joined the St. John’s Greek Orthodox church, where she served as a volunteer at the annual Greek Food Festival and as an officer of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society. She developed numerous enduring friendships through the fellowship of the church.

Dianne retired earlier than anticipated, as she began losing focus and showing other signs of cognitive impairment in 2020. She was eventually diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) and Frontal Temporal Disorder (FTD), two little-known, debilitating non-Alzheimer’s forms of dementia.

Dianne gradually worsened over a 5 year period, with her husband caring for her at home for the last three years until the care she required made it necessary to place her in a memory care facility six months ago, where she passed away peacefully on June 3rd.

Dianne was full of life, enthusiasm and passion. She was humble, loving and it can be said that she truly lived as a good Christian should, under the Golden Rule, always striving to do no harm. That being said, she did not suffer fools well, which makes it all the more amazing that she stayed with Ken so long.

She and Ken loved to travel, and he regrets that their final journey ended so soon.

She leaves behind her two boys, Stephen and Nicholas and one grandson, Owen.

She will truly be missed by all who knew her. Rest in peace, darling…

Dianne will be laid to rest in Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131; Garden of Deseret.