Diane Marie (Abely) Grant


Diane Marie (Abely) Grant, 74, passed away peacefully at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, MA on November 20, 2019. Diane was born in Boston, grew up in Winthrop and attended Cardinal Cushing College in Brookline, MA on a full academic scholarship. After college, Diane was a flight attendant for American Airlines, married and upon the birth of her first child began her true lifetime profession as SUPERMOM. Diane later moved to Sarasota, Florida, where she raised her three children on a small farm. Her Christmas cookies were legendary, and she baked a mean French baguette. She was ahead of her time in matters of wellness, adopting a vegetarian diet, running road races, playing tennis, studying flower essences, cross country skiing, and meditating daily.

With her two eldest children out of the nest, Diane moved back to New England in the early 1990s, this time to South Hamilton, MA. She continued as SUPERMOM, while also working as a real estate appraiser, and subsequently earning her Master of Education in Waldorf Education from Antioch University. After spending time as a Waldorf teacher, she recaptured her love of travel, flying around the world while working as a flight attendant on a private corporate jet. She had one more capstone of her life’s work, however, that came when she became SUPER MIMI. Her fortunate grandchildren were the recipients of many a Mimi Adventure, frequent ice cream stops and special time in her home. If you needed to talk, Diane always had time for a chat and an endless enthusiasm for the latest news from her children, grandchildren and friends. Despite a change in her mobility in recent years, Mimi was a fixture on the Boxford and Masconomet sports fields, cheering on her grandchildren in all their sports, travelling to New York for her grandsons’ birthday parties or hopping a train to Newport to visit with her daughter. She was an independent, joyful, loving, curious and supportive woman who touched the lives those who knew her.

Diane was the daughter of the late Florence (Kiely) and Paul Abely of Winthrop, MA and the sister of the late Patricia (Abely) Sanford of Acton, MA.
She is survived by her loving children, Robyn Earley (Troy Rittenhouse) of Newport, RI, Nadine (Earley) McCall and son-in-law Robert McCall of Boxford, MA, and Robert Earley and daughter-in-law Montira (Rattanavijit) Earley of Brooklyn, NY. She is also survived by a sister Christine (Abely) Ozahowski. “Mimi” will be forever missed by her grandchildren, Jack, Sam & Morgan McCall of Boxford, MA and Weston & Alden Earley of Brooklyn, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Spaulding Rehabilitation Network Adaptive Sports Programs or the Kaplan Family Hospice House. A celebration of life is planned in the new year, please visit the following link: http://evite.me/7eqabURW89

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16 Condolences

  1. Susan Stemitz on November 26, 2019 at 9:42 pm

    My sincere condolences for the world’s loss of an always beautiful and bright lady. I will forever hold dearly the times spent with her and family when I was a little girl both in the woods with Girl Scouts and at her beautiful spotless home with the all white living room. She never aged in face and her beauty and grace carried through to all of her children. May her vivacious of life continue to be an inspiration for all. She was a great mom to her kids and a great mentor for future girls watching her interact with life.



  2. Kelly Griffin on November 27, 2019 at 12:02 am

    Nadine,
    I am so very sorry to read this. What an amazing tribute to your mom. I wish I had gotten to know her. Your family was so fortunate to have such a wonderful supermom/mimi! Healing thoughts and hugs to you and all of your family. Love to you. I really miss seeing you!
    Kelly



  3. Jennifer Kosky-Cowette on November 27, 2019 at 12:21 am

    Nadine, I am so sorry to hear that your mom passed away. She seemed like an amazing woman. Sending hugs and prayers.
    Jen



  4. June Farrell on November 27, 2019 at 12:41 am

    I didn’t realize she had been a flight attendant – she was meant to soar. Her spiritual side was an early influence for me even though I only knew her briefly. She was an amazing woman and did a helluva job with you Nadine. Thinking of you and your family and sending lots of love.



  5. Kristen Tragethon on November 27, 2019 at 2:52 am

    What an amazing woman. I so enjoyed my chats with her over the years. I feel very blessed to have known her. Of all the things we would chat about, teaching, organics, meditation, etc, I never knew she was a flight attendant! That just adds to her amazing life. She loved her family and especially her grandchildren. She always had a huge smile when she got them all off the bus! She will be truly missed. XOXOX



  6. Stephanie Hessenflow on November 27, 2019 at 9:41 am

    I have many fond memories of time spent at that small farm in Sarasota. From countless sleepovers to my acquired love of carob(thanks to those healthy eating habits). Diane was one of the kindest, most compassionate person I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the family during your time of loss.



  7. Lynn Kincanon on November 27, 2019 at 1:25 pm

    Nadine, what a beautiful mother inside and out! How I empathize with you, and wish you strength on this journey ahead for you and your family who loved her so!



  8. Sandy Karcher on November 27, 2019 at 6:15 pm

    Nadine,

    I am so sorry for your loss. I remember your SUPERMOM fondly from our chats on the soccer sidelines. She was a strong and kind woman, and clearly a wonderful role model…she is no doubt incredibly proud of the daughter/amazing woman she raised you to be. My heart goes out to you and your family during this holiday season.

    XO
    -Sandy



  9. Kelley Derr on November 29, 2019 at 10:55 pm

    I’m at a loss for words. What a wonderful woman – the matriarch of a very special family. My heart goes out to your family during this time. You will be in my thoughts.



  10. Lou Greenstein on November 30, 2019 at 2:11 am

    My friend!



  11. Donna Stievater on November 30, 2019 at 7:20 pm

    My heartfelt condolences at your Mom’s passing. What a loss to you and your extended families . . . and what a loss to us all who were blessed to know her. She was remarkable in her loving kindness and gentle ways with such inner strength and staying power. She will be sorely missed and always remembered.



  12. Eleana on December 3, 2019 at 2:48 am

    Having been lucky for 23 years with Diane as a dear friend, I know we are now all BLESSED FROM ABOVE WITH THE MOST BELOVED AND DEVOTED ANGEL. Peace, love and comfort to the whole family. Hugs,Eleana (Elly) Peterson ❤️❤️



  13. David Dalton on December 11, 2019 at 10:38 pm

    My deep condolences to her children, grandchildren and all who knew and loved her. She was a great and very special lady



  14. Lindy Dangelmayer on December 12, 2019 at 1:20 pm

    Diane was a friend to everyone. She was kind, compassionate, spirited and lit up any room she walked into. She was a joy. My heartfelt sympathies to her family.



  15. Bonnie Forman on December 12, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    Diane didn’t care what your age was, your background, your fashion style. She cared about your imagination, your dreams, your in-the-moment state of being. She read your energy and wanted to “up” your vibration with her joy and spirit. She could be at the Mall or on the beach or in the woods; she wanted to live, to be alive and to see others reach for the stars. She grew flowers, hope, love, and let you be sad if that’s what you needed. I always felt “up” after I spent time with Diane. She could sit in the silence of friendship and fall asleep. She trusted that all would be well when she woke up. I have and will miss her.



  16. Joan J McCleary on January 8, 2020 at 6:22 pm

    I was so sorry to learn of Diane’s passing. I first met her when I lived in Boston years ago, and I taught infants and toddlers’ gym and swim at the Y. I brought my young son Sean to the classes, and met Diane and Robin, as well as Donna Stievater and Josh. We became fast friends, formed a babysitting co-op, and spent lots of time together with our children on playgrounds, parks, and near the Charles River. I had a dream about Diane and Donna recently, which motivated me to track them down online. I moved back home to California years ago, but I will treasure the memories of our happy times together.



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