Diana Stafford Mathews, registered nurse (retired), 81, of St. Augustine, Florida, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Bayview Nursing Home.
Born on June 28, 1942, in Passaic, New Jersey, she was the daughter of Ester (Mantz) and Anthony “Tony” Mathews of New Jersey and Vermont.
Diana graduated with a diploma in nursing from Kings County Hospital Center School of Nursing in Brooklyn, New York, and later was an honors graduate with a BSN from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She went on to enjoy a very successful 40-year career in nursing. She served as staff nurse, head nurse, special assistant to the director of nursing, assistant director of ambulatory care, clinical supervisor and assistant director of nursing at Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield, New Jersey. In the 1980s, Diane served as director of nursing at Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, Vermont. She later served as director of nursing at General Hospital of Saranac Lake and Lake Placid Memorial Hospital, and after a merger of these two hospitals, she served as vice president for nursing at Adirondack Medical Center.
Her career activities and honors include: member of Sigma Theta Tau, Alumni Associations of Rutgers College of Nursing and Kings County Hospital Center School of Nursing, Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in American Nursing, Former Commissioner on the Vermont Governor’s Commissioner of the Status of Women, former Board Member of Vermont Achievement Center-Chairperson, Government and Operations Committee, North Country Community College Department of Nursing Advisory Committee, SUNY Plattsburgh Nursing Advisory Committee, trustee for North Country Reference and Research Resources Council and North Country Life Flight Community Advisory Board.
After retiring, she moved to the condo she built in the Smoky Mountain Country Club in North Carolina. Eight years later, after much coaxing from her (so called) “Adopted Family in Florida,” she decided to say goodbye to the Smokies and move to St. Augustine Beach.
Diana was never bored. She was either unpacking from a trip to Disney, talking to friends about her experiences at Disney, or planning another trip (probably to Disney). She was also an avid cook and loved reading through her racks of cookbooks and searching new recipes to try on friends and neighbors. She loved to cook, and they loved to eat!
Diana leaves behind several cousins and many good friends from places where she lived — especially in Rutland, Vermont. Last, but not least, she leaves behind her “BFF” Diana #2 and her family. (Erik & Champ, Stephen & Lynn, and Missi D #2’s 25-year-old parrot.) Happy Trails until we are all together again in paradise.
Private services will be held.
St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
