Diane Spencer Clancy

Diane Spencer (Clark) Clancy, aged 78, died at home Monday, September 25, 2023.

Born February 12, 1945, in Wilmington, DE, Diane was the oldest daughter of Henrietta Alma (Dietrichson) and Col. (Milton) Spencer Clark. Her husband, William Thomas Clancy III predeceased her February 19, 2006.  Diane is survived by her two sons, William Thomas Clancy IV (Michelle) of Powhatan, VA, and Michael Spencer Clancy of Newton, NJ, two grandsons, Liam M. Clancy and William Thomas (Quint) Clancy V, and two sisters, Christine Dietrichson (Williams) Spring (Tom) and Helene Suzanne (Hadley Wiswall) Perdue (Alan).  She is also survived by multiple nephews, Philip Williams (Dawn), Eric Williams (Mary), Sean Clancy, Blake Clancy (Lynsey), Bason Clancy (Megan) and multiple nieces, Renee Hadley, Sharon Clancy (Ben), Kelly Clancy, Kimberly Clancy.

She will also be fondly remembered as “Mom” by many young wrestlers coached and mentored by her husband.  She has stayed involved in their lives for many years. (Chocolate Chip Cookies and Spaghetti Dinners) Always putting other’s needs above her own.

Diane lived in 13 different places in Delaware, Tennessee, New Jersey, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania before she graduated from Trenton (MI) HS. She graduated from SUNY New Paltz having studied Elementary Education and Music (Voice) in 1967 and began teaching first grade in Bethlehem, PA. At that time, she bought her first car, a 1967 Mustang, candy apple red with a black vinyl top and interior. Her family lovingly teased her about it being crab apple red, and still marvels at how she put her sister’s string bass inside that well-loved car.

While teaching, she met her future husband who was student-teaching in physical education at another Bethlehem school.  They married August 17, 1968 and moved to Lake Hopatcong, NJ and eventually built a new house outside Newton, NJ. Diane briefly taught in a Catholic school, but most of her career she taught at Fredon Township School until her retirement in 2007. She and her husband bred and raised border collies and had sheep.  For many years she and her husband hosted the annual Dietrichson family reunions at their Newton home.  Diane was a devoted grandmother, having the joy of living next door to her grandsons after she retired and moved to Powhatan, VA. She was able to participate in their day-to-day lives, which gave her great joy and purpose.

Musically talented, Diane played the piano, clarinet, and sang.  Church choirs benefited from her strong alto voice, for which she will be greatly missed. She also played in the church handbell choir.  Diane was an active member at Christ the King Lutheran Church where she organized bereavement dinners for many years, was on church council, and served in countless other ways.

Diane leaves behind an enormous amount of love in the form of handmade items gifted to many. Her counted cross stitch handiwork hangs in the homes of many loved ones, work she humbly rarely signed.  Almost every baby shower she attended included a crocheted soccer ball, and family births received counted cross stitched birth samplers on their first birthdays. She was also accomplished in embroidery, quilting, and sewing, but what set her apart from others was the speed at which she could do such exceptional handiwork.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church on October 28th, 2023 @ 3pm.

9800 W. Huguenot Rd. Richmond, VA 23235 There will also be a gathering in NJ, at a later date along with the scattering of her ashes, at the site of many years of family fun and happy memories.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Old Powhatan Baptist Church Building Fund, where her grandchildren attend or Christ the King’s Holy Tearers Blanket Ministry.