Diane Frances Fanelli entered eternal rest with her family at her bedside, at Vassar Brothers Hospital on August 7, 2024 after suffering cardiac arrest at her home the evening of August 1. She was born in the spring of 1948 to Frances and Stanley Malik in Troy NY.

Diane is survived by her husband of 44 years, Peter, and her daughters, Darcy Wasileski of Owego NY and her husband John, Gina Edmonson of Marathon Florida, and her husband Keith, and Laura Durning of Farmingdale NY and her husband Jett. Her grandchildren were the joys of her life: Sara Wasileski, Jennifer Yanches and husband Steven, the "Boys" Walter, Ellis and Teddy, and Ellie and Chase. She is also survived by her brother Robert Malik, her sister Nancy Wilson and her husband Dave, and Anne Malik, the surviving wife of Diane's brother Milt. She also leaves behind her dearest friends, Pat and Curt Stegemann and Jane Coleman.

Diane and Peter met in tennis lessons in Menands NY. Peter was the only man in the class, and Diane was the most beautiful woman who had ever bothered to speak to him. They married in 1980 and settled at first in Rensselaer County, while she worked in the NYS Assembly. She then followed Peter around New York State to law enforcement postings in Broome County, Queens County, Herkimer County, and finally Hyde Park. Along the way she finished her bachelor's degree, while raising her three girls. She loved writing and was a reporter for multiple weekly newspapers and had an outdoor column in one of them. She also made herself available to substitute teach. She retired from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as a Grants Administrator, a job that she loved. Her hand is on many funded projects throughout the Hudson Valley.

Diane never went anywhere without a camera. She is renowned for her room full of photo albums, chronicling the life of her family, indexed by date and content. She loved to travel, having been up and down the eastern seaboard of North America, from Newfoundland to Key West, all over Canada, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Ireland, South Africa, Hawaii, Alaska, and Down Under.

She loved nature, constantly fussing over her plants, bird feeders and bird bath. She has photographed a bear up close on her deck while in her nightgown, held a koala in her arms, was kissed by dolphins and had her head in the mouth of a huge bull elephant. She raised and released several raccoons and a red fox, and once had caimans in her bathtub.

Diane was a member of Moose Lodge 904 and volunteered there often. She also enjoyed a good game of cards, and hopefully the angels will have time to play.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 13th, at 9:45am by Father Daniel D'Alliessi at Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel of St. Peter's Parish at 185 Hudson View Drive, Poughkeepsie. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery at 171 Salt Point Turnpike.

In lieu of flowers, the Fanelli family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to "Saint Peter's Church." And indicate with a memo or a short note: "Restricted Donation: Chapel Boiler Project/Propane Tank Project." Your donation is tax deductible, and can be mailed to 171 Salt Point Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603.

To send an online condolence, or for directions, please visit Diane's obituary page at www.sweetsfuneralhome.com.