Diane Rose (Taylor) Tisa

Diane Rose Tisa  (Taylor), 84, of Fitchburg, MA passed away on Thursday, March 27,2025 at the Highlands, with her family at her side, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born in Worcester,Mass and was the daughter of William Taylor and Bernice (Hallihan) Taylor of Worcester, MA.  She graduated from South High School in Worcester, MA, Class of 1959. In school her nickname was “Di” and was seemingly shy, friendly nature and ready smile. She was on the J.V. Basketball team and member of the Pep Club. She went on to nursing school at the David Hale Fanning Girls Trade and established herself as a License Practice Nurse. She worked at the former Burbank Hospital for 31 years and for 6 years at The Highlands before her retirement in 2003. She met her husband Philip at a dance club in Worcester; they were married in Fitchburg where she made her new home. Diane loved to work in her yard, it was her greatest passion and she did it almost every day. She had vegetable and flower gardens and planted almost anything. Once everything grew it was time to rip it out and plant something new or rearrange. When she was done in her yard she would be working in someone else’s. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles and was the photographer for the family and took all the pictures recording her family events.

 She was very domesticated, painted, sewed, carpentry and crochet.  We had so many sweaters, hats, gloves, vests we lost track. She once borrowed the attic roof rafter boards and built her kids an ice skating rink making her husband nervous the roof was going to collapse.  During those hot summers Diane would take her family to Spectacle Pond in Lancaster swimming and every year she would vacation at Ocean Park Maine.   She always knew what to say, did not pass judgement, let you learn from your mistakes, and was the best listener.

She is survived by her two children, Christine M. Kokernak and her husband Scott and Joseph P. Tisa and his wife Susan, grandchildren, Samantha , Nicole,  Alexandra,  Nicholas, Emily and Skyla, great grandchildren, Madison, Collin and Aubrey.  She also leaves her sister, Irene Gustafson of Indio,California.Her husband of 37 years, Philip J.Tisa passed away in 2001.She was also predeceased by her two sisters, Rita Radigan of Fall River, MA, and Marie Newsome of Aurora, Colorado.

Services for Diane will be private at the request of her family.