Obituary of Dianne Lee Smith

Dianne Lee (Grimme) Smith, passed away at her home in Burlington on Sunday evening, July 23, 2023.  She was the beloved wife of the late Ronald F. Smith, she was 86 years old. 

Dianne was born, raised and educated in Chicago, Illinois.  She was the daughter of the late Floyd and Linda Grimme. Dianne lived in Chicago and moved to Puerto Rico for one year before relocating to Massachusetts.  They settled in Burlington where she raised her family.

Dianne loved her family and her home.   She enjoyed entertaining, cooking and baking for the holidays.  She was a loving and supportive mother to her children.  Dianne doted on and spoiled her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She had a close and loving relationship with her nieces, nephews and longtime close friends.    Dianne and her family and friends enjoyed spending time at their year-round home at Winnisquam Lake in Laconia, New Hampshire.  She enjoyed the adventures of skiing and snowmobiling in the winter.  The summer months were spent boating, water skiing and fishing. Dianne preferred her paddle boat over the motorboats any day.  Dianne and her family and friends created many special family memories at the lake house. 

Dianne was an extremely talented seamstress.  She made christening gowns and beautiful dresses for her granddaughters for the holidays.  Dianne was always there for her family and friends when they needed alterations to their wardrobe.  Dianne had other talents including quilting, embroidery and numerous arts and crafts projects.   She was a woman of many talents.  There was nothing Dianne couldn’t fix, and she was a natural at DIY projects around the house and had an abundance of tools in her toolbox. Her children and grandchildren often ordered furniture from Wayfair and online retailers and Dianne would put them together.    She was the biggest fan of her children, grandchildren, and great children’s sports, she would attend every event cheering them on. When family and friends came to visit, she could often be found watching sports, a few of her favorites were golf, Football (Patriots), Baseball (Red Sox), and Gymnastics. When her children were grown, she and her husband Ron moved to Georgia for 14 years where they enjoyed traveling locally and took numerous cruises. 

She worked as a Regional Manager for Piece Goods retail chain.  With her all her talents it was the perfect role for Dianne, and she excelled at her job.  When Ron passed away, Dianne moved back to New England to be closer to family.   

Dianne had a deep and loving connection to the people that surrounded her life.   She had a presence in her family and extended families lives.  She was always there for them not just when things were going well but when they needed her the most.   Dianne will be remembered as a talented, strong, dependable, loving and independent woman who always put the needs of others before her own. 

Dianne was the beloved wife of the late Ronald F. Smith.  She was the loving mother of, Gayle Lang of Burlington, Dianne Buttaro & her husband David of Woburn and the late Walter “Wally” Paul Semonoff and the late Lawrence “Larry” Semonoff and the step-mother of Cheryl Smith and Karyn Smith Wilson and the late Cheryl Smith.   Dianne was the proud grandmother of Valerie Conway & her husband James, Stephen Trabucco, Laura Hanafin & her husband James, Matthew Trabucco & his wife Olivia, Haylee Lang and Kyle Bythrow, Jillian Buttaro, Janessa Howarth & her husband David, Jeffrey Buttaro & his wife Jennifer and Jessica Parrillo & her husband Greg, Jessica Smith Nash, Brody and Riley Wilson.  Dianne was the great grandmother of Jackson Trabucco, Mason & Logan Conway, Rosalie, James & Emilia Hanafin, Jacob Trabucco, Andrew, Alden & Adelyn Howarth, Serena & Lilly Buttaro and Giana Parrillo.  Dianne was the sister of the late Joanne Andres, and Maryann Hilmer.   Dianne was also survived by loving nieces, Lisa Neuman and her husband George and their family, Cheryl Moser and her husband, and Jimmy Andres and his wife Ann and their family, and her very good friends, Cliff Boudrot, Janice and Mike Smith, Vania, Jim, Sarah and Ian Zanere, and Lu Smith.

Funeral Services will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON on Monday, July 31st at 1 p.m.  Visiting hours will be held prior to the service from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Services will conclude with burial in Chestnut Hill Cemetery