White River Junction, VT – Dianne Leffert McFarland died on January 21, 2026, in White River Junction, VT, with her beloved daughters by her side.
She was born on May 21, 1935, in Chicago, IL, to Paul William and Thora Martin Oursler. Two years later, her sister Betty joined the family, beginning a bond defined by abiding affection and loyalty. The sisters enjoyed a happy, carefree childhood and remained devoted to one another throughout their lives.
Dianne began her college education at Hanover College, then transferred to Westminster College in Pennsylvania, where she earned a BA in elementary education. It was there, on a blind date, that she met her future husband, Thomas Larry McFarland. Before their marriage in 1961, Dianne followed her calling as a teacher, first in East Orange, NJ; then in Germany, where she taught the children of US Army families; and in New York City after returning to the United States.
After they married, Dianne and Tom settled briefly in Mt. Lebanon, PA, until a position at Johns Hopkins University brought them to Baltimore, where they welcomed their daughters, Ellen Dianne in 1964 and Cara Suzanne in 1967. From then on, Dianne would embrace family life fully and with great joy.
Over the years, the family made two cross-country moves: from Baltimore to Lafayette, CA, and then back east in 1979 to Hanover, NH, where Dianne and Tom would remain for the rest of their lives. Wherever she lived, Dianne had a remarkable gift for creating community and making a place feel like home. She sang in church choirs, told stories, supported the arts, and poured her energy into nurturing connections. Above all, she was a loving wife and mother, and an unwavering champion for her husband and daughters.
In Hanover, Dianne deepened her work as a storyteller, captivating her audiences – often children – with the magic and richness of literature. Music remained central to her life: She sang in choirs and the Handel Society, and she and Tom nurtured a passion for opera through their involvement with Opera North. Together they chaired committees, hosted fundraising dinners, and opened their home to visiting young artists, welcoming them not just as guests but as part of the household. Northern Stage and the AVA Gallery were among the other organizations she supported enthusiastically, along with a connection to the wider college community.
Mutually supportive and dedicated to one another, Dianne and Tom were true partners. They built much of their later life around travel, entertaining, cooking, food and giving back, pursuits that reflected Dianne’s warmth, curiosity and generosity of spirit.
In her later years, Dianne’s creativity never dimmed. She helped start short story and poetry reading groups, took special delight in writing haiku, and continued to read widely. Most of all, she cherished time with her grandchildren. She formed a genuine and unique bond with each of them and took great pleasure in sharing their stories and their accomplishments with others.
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.
Her family is grateful for the compassionate care Dianne 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.
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