Diana Thayer Watlington

Kittery, ME - Diana Thayer Watlington, of Kittery, ME, died at Portsmouth Regional Hospital on Sunday, April 16th. She was born in Hamilton, Bermuda in 1951, daughter of Rosalind Garges Watlington and Francis “Frank” William Harrison Watlington. Baptized in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, she grew up in Pembroke, Bermuda, attending the Bermuda High School for Girls, and later the Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston, Pennsylvania. Diana pursued her undergraduate studies at Ithaca College where she first majored in Music, later graduating with a BA in Studio Art. She furthered her visual art studies at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and later the Maine College of Art. In 1972, Diana married Theodore Allen Ruetenik, and they made their home in West Concord, MA, where they raised two children, Kerry and Daniel, eventually moving to Cambridge, MA in 1996. Diana shared her love for art and music with her children, and her home was filled with the sounds of piano, flute, guitar, and singing, and her paintings covered the walls. Diana exhibited her art in many local galleries and was a founding member of the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, MA, where she taught art classes and maintained a studio. She sold her prints, greeting cards, and original coloring books throughout Bermuda. Diana was an active volunteer and contributor to the Concord Public Schools, the FolkTree concert series, and the Dance Complex in Central Square, Cambridge. She was also a prolific songwriter and member of the Cambridge folk music scene, performing at open mics and coffee houses around the Boston Area. Diana had a restless spirit and her love of travel took her to locations across the United States. She spent long stretches of time in Albuquerque, NM, San Diego, CA, Portland, ME, and Old Orchard Beach, ME. A dedicated journal writer, she filled hundreds of notebooks with sketches, thoughts, and observations from her travels. In Diana’s later years, she was increasingly devoted to her Christian faith, and was a familiar figure at church services and bible readings from Portsmouth, NH to Portland, ME, including the Cathedral Church of St. Luke. She donated to scores of religious charities and educational programs nationwide, and she often looked forward to reading about the success of their programs in monthly newsletters and annual missives. In the last year of her life, Diana resided at Holiday Kittery Estates, where she enjoyed long walks into town and lively conversations with many of the residents. Diana is survived by her brother, Bill “Byron” Watlington, daughter, Kerry Abukhalaf, son, Daniel Ruetenik, and grandson, Mazen Abukhalaf. She will be laid to rest in a private burial at St. Paul Cemetery in Arlington, MA. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Preble Street in Portland, ME. Online: https://www.preblestreet.org/ Or by mail: Preble Street, 55 Portland Street Portland, ME 04101 You can view a video of Diana performing folk music, circa 1993, here: https://youtu.be/BrTeoiE_XUU

Diana Thayer Watlington

April 5, 1951 - April 16, 2023