Dianne Leffert McFarland died on January 31, 2026, in White River Junction, VT, with her beloved daughters by her side.

Born on May 21, 1935, in Chicago, IL, to Paul William and Thora Martin Oursler, Dianne was joined two years later by her sister Betty, beginning an abiding bond marked by deep affection and loyalty. Together they enjoyed a happy and carefree childhood and remained devoted to one another throughout their lives.

Dianne began her college years at Hanover College in Indiana, then transferred to Westminster College in Pennsylvania, where she earned a BA in Elementary Education. It was there that she made lifelong friends and met her future husband, Thomas Larry McFarland, on a blind date. Before their marriage in 1961, Dianne taught elementary school in East Orange, NJ and later in Germany, where she was a teacher for Dependent Schools attended by children of US Army families. After returning to the United States, she continued teaching, this time at the Brick Church Nursery School in New York City.

Following their marriage, Dianne and Tom settled briefly in Mt. Lebanon, PA, where Dianne taught at the Mount Lebanon Elementary School until a position at Johns Hopkins University took them to Baltimore, MD. There, they welcomed their daughters, Ellen Dianne in 1964 and Cara Suzanne in 1967.

Over the years, the family made two cross-country moves: from Baltimore to Lafayette, CA, and back east, in 1979, to Hanover, NH, where Dianne and Tom remained for the rest of their lives. Wherever she lived, Dianne had a gift for creating community. She sang in church choirs, told stories, supported the arts, and poured her energy into nurturing connections. Above all, she was a loving, devoted mother and an unwavering champion for her daughters.

When the family settled in Hanover, Dianne returned to teaching part time, as a substitute at the Ray School. She also deepened her work as a storyteller, captivating her audiences—often children—with the richness of literature. Music remained central to her life: she sang with church choirs and the Handel Society and, with Tom, nurtured a shared love of opera through involvement with Opera North. Together, they chaired committees, hosted fundraising dinners, and opened their home to visiting young artists during production seasons. Northern Stage and the AVA Gallery were also close to her heart.

In her later years at the Village at White River Junction, Dianne's curiosity and creativity never dimmed. She helped start short story and poetry reading groups, found joy in writing haiku, and continued to read widely. She especially treasured time spent with her grandchildren, each of whom she shared a special bond with, and she delighted in thinking and talking about them.

Dianne is survived by her daughter Ellen Jackson and her husband Steven, and by her daughter Cara Pestorius, her husband Michael, and their children Morgan Landolfi, Taylor, and Riley.

Dianne's family is grateful for the compassionate care she received from the staff at the Village and from her remarkable Bayada hospice team, as well as for the love and support of lifelong friends in the Upper Valley and beyond.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dianne's memory may be made to Bayada Hospice, PO Box 1590, Norwich, VT 05055.