Diane C. Ronchi

Diane C. Ronchi, a lifelong Greenbelt resident, passed away on June 12, 2019. Diane was born on January 13, 1947, at Prince George’s Hospital, to George and Dirce Ronchi. Diane grew up and spent most of her life in Greenbelt, MD. Her father, George, was a painter who studied art at the Corcoran School of the Arts in Washington DC. Diane developed a talent for drawing at a very young age by spending endless hours watching her father do what he loved. Her favorite past-time was drawing animals, especially horses.  She attended St. Hugh’s Catholic School and went on to graduate from High Point High School in 1965. Diane married in 1968 and raised two wonderful children, Jeffrey and Diane, who also attended St. Hugh’s Catholic School. While her children attended there, Diane was an active room mother, helping with bazaars, bake sales and luncheons. She was also a Cub Scout leader and very active with the local Brownie and Girl Scout troops. Later, when her children were in high school, Diane worked at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Greenbelt, MD, again using her art skills as a secretary to produce amazing weekly bulletins. Years later, Diane went to work for the Department of Agriculture in Beltsville, MD, and finished her federal government career with the Department of Defense working at the Pentagon as a travel agent. The department was then transferred to Fort Belvoir, VA, where she finally retired early to take care of her mother. During her tenure at the Pentagon, she was unfortunately present during the 9/11 attacks. 

Diane joined the Greenbelt Fire Department in 1989 as part of the Ladies Auxiliary, again following in her father’s footsteps as he was one of the first volunteers to help organize the Greenbelt Rescue Squad. During her time there she served as Secretary until she became ill. She was instrumental in their yearly bake sales, filling cookie jars and using her artistic talent to make posters. She would have celebrated 30 years of service with the Ladies Auxiliary this year. She is gone but not forgotten. Over the years, Diane also volunteered with the Park Police Volunteer Association, the Public Safety Advisory Committee and the Greenbelt Police Citizen’s Academy. Diane showed her love for the Greenbelt Police Department by dropping in on regular basis to deliver homemade baked goods to the officers, especially the chief. Of course this made her very popular with the department. Diane was an avid dog lover and had many dogs over the years. Everyone who knew Diane was aware of her strong love for dogs and all animals. She was instrumental in the creation of the Greenbelt dog park.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents George and Dirce Ronchi. She is survived by her two brothers, George Ronchi (Rita) and William Ronchi (Diane), her two children, Jeffrey Timbs (Rochelle Lida Timbs) and Diane Timbs Fuchs, her grandchildren, Alyssa, Jessica, Jeanette, Mark and Tony, and her great granddaughter, Emma. She is also survived by many cousins, aunts and uncles in New Jersey, her loving best friend, Charlene Backstrom, her beloved dog Sadie, and numerous other friends in Greenbelt, the city she loved so much.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Greenbelt Ladies Auxiliary in memory of Diane.

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