Portland - Diane Houghton Parker, 95, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025 after a full, exciting life. She was born November 24, 1929 in Providence, RI, only child of show business parents Wilfred and Dorothy Gray Houghton. She was raised in South Portland by her maternal grandmother, Annie Martin Gray, and an aunt, Helen McBrady Gilchrist. Diane graduated from South Portland High School in 1947. She worked for a time at the phone company before marrying.

She married Francis X. Parker in 1950 and moved to the Augusta/Gardiner area where they raised 5 children while Frank worked for IBM. They were parishioners at St. Mary's Church in Augusta. During these years she was active as a volunteer in the Augusta Community Concert Assn., Parents' Creative Arts Committee, Augusta General Hospital, and the Oblate Retreat House. She also worked during these years at the Maine Heart Association, the Kennebec Journal, UMA Bookstore, the Talent Tree Art Gallery, and the ME Library Advisory Comm.

After their divorce in the mid 70's, Diane continued her college education, and added to her many skills by working as a secretary for the UMA FORUM-A office in Augusta, then moving to Orono to work as an admin. secretary at UMO. She then moved back to the Portland area to work at USM, the Maine District Court, and finally with Mary Alice Reilly Antiques in Portland and later Mulberry Cottage in South Portland. She maintained a long wonderful relationship with Mary Alice and her family for many years afterwards.

Diane also had a wonderful relationship with her sisters-in-law – Jean, Nina, Mary Lou, and Elaine. They were the glue that bonded the large Parker family together in a way that inspires others to this day. All of the traditional Thanksgivings at Diane's house, the Italian Easters at Jean's, the Cadillac camping with Elaine, Mary Lou's intrepid bargain-hunting, and Nina's incomparable Sophia Loren impersonation, gave rise to the unforgettable times that still happen amongst the 19 cousins to this day! Thank you Diane for such great memories!

She had a great appreciation of the arts, music, languages (especially French), proper grammar and travel, visiting Europe 3 times, twice with her children! She was witty, sarcastic, intelligent, inquisitive and appreciative of other people's talents. She also enjoyed a lifelong bond with "les Girls", Louise Hathaway, Claire Cote, Gladys Gugan, and Peg Lovett, her 4 women friends with whom she traveled and spent many enjoyable hours doing life!

She lived in Cape Elizabeth for 30 years in her last favorite apartment near Gerry and Sharon Murray. It was here that she enjoyed playing her piano (beautifully!), holding Scrabble tournaments with family, enjoying her classical music and Opera CD's, reading, and listening to PBS. She was a member of St. Bartholomew's Parish in Cape Elizabeth.

Her final years were spent at Fallbrook Woods memory facility in Portland where she entertained, and was adopted by, the most wonderful Staff ever! She loved them and they loved her, and her family is forever blessed by their care of Diane.

Now that Diane is finally flying free, her family is celebrating her lifelong love of planes. She started a serious love affair with flying when she had her first flying lessons at age 18. Her children presented her with another lesson at age 70, she took lessons in Scarborough at age 79, and she flew again in an old fighter plane in her 80's. Diane always wanted to soar, and now she is!

Many profound comments and memories have been received from family and friends regarding Diane's life, some of which are these: Very special person. We love her and she'll be missed. – MP; She found joy in simple things, needed so little and was grateful for what she had. At times not an easy life and born too early for her to soar. She had such appreciation for small things, especially French things – PW; She was such an inspiration to me, a woman living on her own terms in a different time. Smart, courageous, vivacious and beautiful. – MFS

Her favorite Psalm 139 will be read at her Graveside Service. She will be missed by all, but we will enjoy, and be comforted by, all of her wonderful memories!

Diane was pre-deceased by her son Michael Parker, and a grandson Derek Emery. She is survived by a brother John and wife Laurel Rodman of Tiverton RI, her daughters Elizabeth and husband John Campbell of Chelsea, ME, Susan Parker of Brunswick, ME , Jane Parker and partner Kevin Cassidy of Eagle, CO, and her son Gregory and wife Jerrie Parker of Albion, ME. She is also survived by 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren

Visiting hours will be Friday May 30 4-7PM at Hobbs Funeral Home in South Portland. A Graveside Service will be Saturday May 31 11AM at Riverside Memorial Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth, followed by a Celebration of Life at Two Lights State Park (The Group Shelter, handicap accessible, watch for signs) in Cape Elizabeth. Please join us, we look forward to reminiscing and celebrating with you all!!