Diane A. (Bessette) Brodo, a fledgling snow-bird of Dartmouth Massachusetts passed away Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018 at Leesburg Medical Center after suddenly falling ill. She was the long-loved wife to the late Stephen S. Brodo, Jr. to whom she was happily married for 45 years. Diane retired to Fruitland Park, FL in 2017 when she remarried and was last known as Diane A. (Bessette) Brodo-Simpson.

Born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Leonel J. and Aurore M. (Arsenault) Bessett, she was a longtime south coast resident. She attended high school in New Bedford and received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from SMU. She was employed by the State of Massachusetts as a social worker for the Department of Social Services for 10+ years, having a profound impact on the lives of those she served.

Diane loved gathering her family and friends together, particularly during the holidays and family events. She especially loved her grandchildren and is lovingly referred to as Grandma or Memere. As a deaconess at the Dartmouth Baptist Church she also touched the lives of many.

She is survived by three daughters; Suzanne Lewis and husband Robert of New Bedford, Christine Sameiro of Dartmouth, Sandra DeBiasse and her husband David of Wisconsin, two sons; Stephen S. Brodo III and his wife Erica of Mattapoisett, Matthew Brodo and his wife Marianne of Fairhaven, two sisters; Doris Phillips of Michigan and Lea Gregoire of Fairhaven, one brother; Dennis Bessette of Florida; nine grandchildren, one great-grandson and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Lorraine LaBlanc, Donald, James, Robert and Francis Bessette.

Diane’s visitation will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Road, S. Dartmouth, MA 02748. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Cemetery Chapel, 559 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford, 02746. Relatives and friends are invited.  To leave a note of condolence visit: www.waring-sullivan.com