Anaheim, California----Frances Turner Diefenbach, born in Laconia, NH on June 13, 1913 to Mabel Swain and Henry T Turner, Frances passed away February 2, 2007 of pneumonia. She was a resident of Walnut Manor in Anaheim, CA. After graduation from Skidmore College, Frances worked as a dietician in Boston, MA and Rochester, NY. In 1937 she married John Diefenbach, who worked for Texaco, and subsequently moved to Africa. During their married life, Frances lived in Accra, the Gold Coast (Ghana), Leopoldville (Kinshasa), the Belgian Congo (Congo), Dakar, Senegal, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Montevideo, Uruguay, Kew Gardens, NY, Westfield, NJ and Armonk, NY. Upon John’s death in 1972, Frances moved to Leisure World in Laguna Hills, CA and remained there until 2003. In 1979, she married David Anderson. They enjoyed 6 years together, traveling frequently, until his death. In 1999, after a 60-year separation, Frances was reunited with her childhood sweetheart from NH, Bill (Fred) Hoyt, Sr. until his death in 2005. Frances was a lifelong member of the Mayflower Society and of PEO. She was a member of Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods, CA. She is survived by her son John Diefenbach and daughter-in-law Terry Lim Diefenbach of Tokyo, Japan, her daughter, Joan Bray Owen of Hingham, MA, grandchildren Joseph Diefenbach of Brooklyn, NY, Kim Bray of Norton, MA, Heather Hildebrand of Austin, TX, Scott Owen of Hingham, MA, and 5 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by David Anderson’s children David Anderson of Anaheim, CA and Elaine Milz of Dayton, NV and their children and grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at the Laconia Congregational Church, Veterans Square, Laconia, NH on June 9, 2007 at 2:00PM. The Rev. Dr. Warren H. Bouton, Pastor of the Church, will officiate.
Burial will be in the family lot in Union Cemetery, Laconia, New Hampshire.
Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, New Hampshire is in charge of the arrangements.
