Diane P. Mongenel, age 74, of Austinburg, passed away at home on February 14th surrounded by her devoted family. She was born on March 8, 1945 in Fairfield, Connecticut, the daughter of Leslie and Olga Poinelli. A 1963 graduate of Andrew Warde High School she briefly attended Brescia College in Owensboro, Kentucky and later attended the National Academy of Hairdressing in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Prior to moving to North Kingsville, Ohio in 1973, Diane worked at the Hartford Insurance Company where she began her career in business.
Diane started working part-time at AAA in Ashtabula and attended travel school in Pittsburgh. She became the AAA Travel Agency manager and in 1984 she was selected to be the Ashtabula office manager and the Ashtabula Deputy Registrar for the DMV Division.
Prior to her retirement in 2003, Diane worked over 30 years for AAA, a job she truly enjoyed. She travelled extensively throughout the world, including Europe, Hong Kong, Alaska and Tahiti. After her retirement, she continued working for the BMV both in Geneva and Jefferson.
A member of St. Joseph’s Church in Ashtabula, Diane enjoyed her new home in Austinburg which she shared with her beloved husband, Eugene. They were married in Hawaii in 1989 and cruised the Hawaiian Islands on their honeymoon.
Diane loved cooking, gardening and most of all, entertaining her loving family and many friends. She was always there to brighten the lives of others. Diane will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and her joyful and giving nature.
Her survivors include her husband Eugene, his daughter Angie Gruber and her husband Shawn and his daughter Gina Wilms and her husband Scott. Her 5 grandchildren Adam, Emily and Ben Gruber, Isabelle and Jacob Wilms, all of Austinburg. Diane’s sister Marion Sperry of Fairfield, Connecticut, her nephew Brett Sperry, his wife Angela and their children Giovanna and Alexandra of Kansas and her niece Jenna Fredette and her husband Greg and their children Julie and Katherine of New Hampshire.
Diane was predeceased by her parents Leslie and Olga Poinelli and her
brother Leslie James Poinelli.
Donations may be made to Living with Lymphedema, UH Concord Health Center, 7500 Auburn Road, Concord Township, OH 44077; Hospice of the Western Reserve, P. O. Box 72101, Cleveland OH 44197; and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 3312 Lake Ave, Ashtabula, OH 44004.
Friends will be received 5-8 p.m. Thursday, February 20,2020 at the Behm Family Funeral Home, 175 S. Broadway in Geneva. A Mass of the Christian Burial will take place 11 a.m. Friday, February 21, 2020 at St. Joseph Church, 3312 Lake Avenue in Ashtabula. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. The Behm Family Funeral Home is assisting the family at this time. Online obituary and condolences may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com