Diana L. Redfern, 93, of Lenox, died peacefully, Thursday morning at Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center. She was born in Lawrence, Kan., on July 24, 1931, to the late Harold and Esther Billigmeier Berger.
After Diana’s birth, the family moved back to their home state of Minnesota. She attended Theodore Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, graduating in 1949. In her youth, Diana played the piano and the cello. After high school, she attended the University of Minnesota, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in history. Upon graduation, she got a job at Prudential Life, where she met and fell in love with Charles Redfern, marrying in Minneapolis on September 18, 1954. In the next few years, they had two children and moved to California, then New Jersey, before settling in Bloomfield, Conn., in 1972.
Everywhere they lived, Diana and Charles were involved in their local Episcopal Church. In Connecticut, Diana was employed by Phoenix Mutual, rising to the position of senior underwriter. Retiring in 1993 along with Charles, they resided in Lenox, Mass., and Naples, Fla. They travelled and enjoyed going to concerts at Tanglewood and The Metropolitan Opera in New York. When it was time to take it easy, they moved into Kimball Farms Life Care where they made great friends. Her beloved Charles passed away in 2012.
Diana was a humble, considerate, and kind person and loved her family with her whole heart unconditionally. She enjoyed reading, music, and crossword puzzles. She had a dry wit and loved to laugh.
Besides her husband Charles and her parents, Diana is predeceased by her son Charles Redfern Jr. Mrs. Redfern is survived by her daughter Catherine Levesque (David) of South Windsor, Conn.; her daughter-in-law Andrea Redfern of Hebron, Conn.; her grandchildren, Hunter and Renee Levesque (Jenn) and Caleb Redfern; her great-grandson Ryan; and extended family, friends, and staff at Kimball Farms.
There will be a memorial gathering at Kimball Farms in the spring, with the date to be determined. Memorial donations in Diana’s memory may be made to Lenox Library Association or to HospiceCare in The Berkshires in care of the Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240. To share memories and stories, please visit the funeral home’s website.