Diana Joy Long

Diana Joy (Nickerson) Long, a resident of  Dover since 1973, died Monday, November 30th, 2009 at her home in Dover, of lung cancer. She was 67. Joy was born June 18, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Henry G., and Laetitia (Orlandini) Nickerson.  She grew up in Dedham and was a member of the Class of 1961 at Beaver Country Day School and the Class of 1963 at Garland Junior College. Joy was a life-long member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Dedham, serving on many committees, and at the time of her death she was a Lay Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Vestry, the Altar Guild, the Mission Committee, the Bible Study Group, and the Prayer Shawl Knitting Group. She was also a long-time active member of the Vincent Club of Boston. Joy was an alcoholic who found sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous and over the years helped many others to become sober.  She the wife of 47 years of Charles W. Long of Dover; and the mother of George W. Long and his wife Mercedes of Dedham, Nancy N. Davenport and her husband John of Holiday, Florida, and Henry G. Long and his wife Stacey Shen of Cambridge. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christopher Long, Kassandra Long, Christine Davenport, and Jacqueline Long. Also surviving are her nephew, Michael Minot of Fort Lauderdale, her niece Anita Minot of San Francisco, and her brother-in-law Dr. William M. Wheeler of Chestnut Hill. She was t he sister of the late Beatrice Wheeler of Chestnut Hill and the late Charlotte Bishop of Nokomis, Florida. There will be a memorial service in celebration of Joy’s life at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Dedham at 2:00 PM, Monday, December 7, 2009. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 59 Court Street, Dedham, MA 02026.