Diane Averill Enjoyed Travel and Her Family

Diane McKay Averill died on Tuesday, Jan. 13. Fighting a brief but difficult battle with cancer, she came home to Martha's Vineyard from Arizona to spend her last days with her family.

Diane was graduated from Martha's Vineyard Regional High School in 1965 and Fisher Junior College in Boston. For 20 years she worked for the John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston.

She returned to the Vineyard to care for her mother, who was then in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. When her mother entered Windemere, Diane moved to Arizona.

She enjoyed traveling and one of her favorite places was Las Vegas. She relished her time with her nieces and nephews.

She was the daughter of Eileen Averill of Oak Bluffs and Preston and Gerry Averill of Vineyard Haven. She was the sister of Preston Averill of Arizona and Oak Bluffs, Corrine Hatt of Edgartown and Lorraine Leonard of Groton. She was the beloved aunt of Richard Marshall of Nantucket, Gregory Marshall of Vineyard Haven, Christian Averill of Edgartown, Jonathon Averill of Oak Bluffs, Karin Averill Parker of Agawam, Robert Leonard of Newton and Teresa and Kenneth Leonard of Groton. Diane was the step-sister of Rebecca Luce of Lebanon, N.H., Ehud Neor of Israel and Mark Luce of Oak Bluffs.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, Martha's Vineyard Special Parents Association, Box 524, Edgartown, MA 02539, The American Cancer Society or to the charity of your choice.