Edith E. Diesel

Edith Elizabeth (Wollenberg) Diesel, of Storrs, died May 24, 2003 at Windham Hospital. Born April 17, 1921 in Hartford to Christopher and Ada (Fripp) Wollenberg, Edith grew up in Farmington, graduating from Farmington High School in 1939. She earned her bachelor's degree in Home Economics from the University of Connecticut in 1943. She was the Editor in Chief of the Daily Campus newspaper, and a varsity cheerleader while at UConn. Edith joined the Marine Corps and served as a Noncommissioned Officer through the duration of World War II. Following the war she married Thomas R. Diesel, to whom she was married for 57 years until his death in 2001. Edith earned her Master's Degree in Home Economics in 1949 and her Sixth Year Degree in 1959 from UConn. She was Home Economics teacher at E.O. Smith High School for more than 20 years. Edith devoted much of her life to the university and, with her husband, received the Outstanding Alumni Award in 1993. She was a founding and lifelong member of the local Beta Sigma Phi service sorority. She was a devoted parishioner and member of the Vestry of St. Mark's Episcopal Chapel in Storrs. Edith loved to quilt , golf and was an avid bridge player and gardener. Edith leaves her son R. Wayne and his wife Carole of Clifton Park, N.Y. and their children Geoffrey, Kristen and Caitlin; her son Tad and his wife Joanne and their daughters Alison and Erica of Farmington; and her son W. Brent and his wife Sandra of Dover, N.H. and their son Christopher. Edith also leaves her surrogate daughter Tuula and her husband Michael Fitzgerald of Mansfield Center and their children, Liam and Kirsti. Edith is also survived by her sister Phyllis Mirfield of Carlisle, MA., and her brother Colonel William Wollenberg of Fort Collins, CO. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday May 28, 2003 at 1:00pm at St. Mark's Episcopal Chapel, 42 N. Eagleville Rd., Storrs, with burial following the Storrs Cemetery. A reception will be held at St. Mark's Chapel after the burial service. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Chapel, 42 N. Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT. 06268 or to the University of Connecticut Foundation, 2309 Alumni Dr., Storrs, Ct. 06269. The Diesel family was assisted by the Potter Funeral Home, Willimantic. Please visit at www.potterfh.com for online expressions of sympathy.