Our beloved mother, wife, grandmother, sister and friend, Diana Dorothy Paris Breslav of Tamarac, Florida, passed away peacefully with family on Jan. 8, 2021 at University Hospital in Tamarac, Florida.

Diana was born Jan. 17, 1943 in Rochester, New York to Dorothy and Walter Paris. Diana graduated Wheatland-Chili High School in Scottsville, New York in 1960, where she was an active leader participating in the national honor society, planning social events, and as yearbook editor.

In 1964, Diana graduated from the State University College at Cortland (now SUNY Cortland), where she studied English and education, and was a member of the debate team. Diana loved her sorority sisters at Nu Sigma Chi.

After college, Diana moved to Fairfield, Connecticut, taking a teaching position in secondary education in Trumbull. Soon after, she met the love of her life, Jon Breslav, and they were married on Aug. 21, 1965, in Scottsville, New York. They loved and cared for each other deeply until his passing in 2012.

Soon after marriage, the couple moved to Stamford, Connecticut, where they had two children, Alison Breslav Goldberg and Gordon Walter Breslav. In 1974 the family headed west to Chesterfield, Missouri near St. Louis where Diana was active raising her family, welcoming new neighbors and supporting her local community.

In 1981, Diana and the family relocated to South Florida, settling in Coral Springs. Diana had intended to dabble in teaching by being a substitute teacher. When she arrived at J.P. Taravella High School as a sub in the fall of 1985, she was informed the school desperately needed a full-time teacher and could she start that week? Diana jumped at the chance and so began her second teaching career that lasted until 2011.

Diana had a love of literature and especially American literature titles such as “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Scarlet Letter” (No one wore a Hester Prynne Halloween costume quite like Diana did.).

Through friends in St. Louis, Diana and the family were introduced to what became their home away from home, Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Diana loved her time there, sitting on the porch looking out at the hustle and bustle of the harbor as she relaxed and enjoyed her retirement. But most of all Diana loved spending time with the friends who became family from Juniper Point.

In between trips to Maine and to visit her family, Diana relentlessly pursued her passion for remodeling, cooking and the culinary arts, knitting, needlepoint, and traveling the world with friends and family. Her creations either in the kitchen or from needlework always brought joy to those she knew and loved.

Diana was predeceased by her loving husband, Jon Breslav, and her parents, Dorothy and Walter Paris.

She is survived by her son, Gordon Walter Breslav and his wife, Dru Breslav of Simsbury, Connecticut; her daughter, Alison Breslav Goldberg of Palmetto, Florida; and her loving sister Mary Della Paris Orticelli of Vero Beach, Florida. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Caroline, Ben and JR Breslav as well as Ryan and Noah Salomon.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, the American Cancer Society, or any organization in support of wounded veterans. The family is planning celebrations of Diana’s life for later this year when we can all gather safely in Florida and Maine.