Diane Joan Vessel

The world became a little less interesting with the passing of Diane Joan Vessel on the afternoon of January 29, 2026. She was 82 years old. Granted, battling dementia the past eight years has meant “Remember when …” questions went increasingly unanswered. A shame, since they often prompted tales about her Depression-era parents, a variety of nursing jobs, houses she renovated, her many ‘favorite’ dogs, a purring Yamaha 750 motorcycle, sailing adventures in NJ and Florida, her love of the Moody Blues, trips to Colorado, Alaska and Australia, and a beloved chestnut mare named Beauty. Oh, and her two sons, Joseph and Kevin Wall, who were usually the ones posing the questions. Diane was born to Madeline and Arthur White during World War II in Neptune, NJ. Their turbulent relationship was endured by Diane, her older brother Wayne and younger sister Gayle. Diane graduated from Neptune High School and earned an RN degree from All Souls Nursing School in Morristown, NJ. Soon after, she married her first husband Joseph ‘Pat’ Wall and gave birth to their two sons in Parsippany, NJ. She and second husband Robert Vessel moved from NJ to Miami, FL in the late ‘70s. After vowing to never marry again, a motorcycle trip to the Cumberland Plateau in the mid-80s prompted Diane to create her ideal homestead outside Crossville, TN. It included a 3-bedroom house she rebuilt herself, a detached garage bursting with tools and projects, a horse barn (with horse), a pair of actual babbling brooks and a hillside brimming with tall grass and wildflowers. Diane renovated another house in Lake Tansi, TN and took a brief sojourn to northern Florida before purchasing her final home outside of Maryville, TN in the late ‘90s. It was there she kept her hummingbird feeders full and sprawling lawn at bay with a well-oiled John Deere. It is also where Diane lovingly cared for her mother as she slowly succumbed to Alzheimer’s. If asked, Diane would tell you she was a nurse. No more, no less. In recognition of her 50+ years as an RN, please consider donating to the American Nurses Foundation.

Tributes

Diane Joan Vessel

March 25, 1943 - January 29, 2026