Dorothy Peterson Diesl, 94, beloved mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, and artist, died on January 12, 2010 at the Pomperaug Woods Health Center in Southbury, CT.
The cause of death was congestive heart failure.
Born in Brooklyn to Emma and Theodore Peterson on May 7, 1915, Dorothy grew up there and graduated from Pratt Institute in 1934 where she met her future husband, Francis "Frank" Diesl" of NYC. After their marriage in 1940, Dorothy and Frank moved into a brownstone apartment in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, later raising their children in Freeport, Long Island. In 1971, Dorothy and Frank moved to Newtown, CT and later to Heritage Village. Dorothy became a resident of Pomperaug Woods in 2004.
Dorothy began taking art lessons at Pratt at the age of 11, putting her painting aside while she raised her children and volunteered in the church and community. She treasured the beauty of the Connecticut countryside and returned to her art to express her love for its landscape and historic buildings. Dorothy was a past member of the Sheffield (MA) Art Association and the Heritage Village Brush and Pencil Club. Along with exhibiting in many juried venues, Dorothy had several one woman shows, one at the Bank of Boston Southbury in 1996.
Most recently she was the proud recipient of a second prize for a painting in the September 2009 Connecticut Senior Juried Art Show.
Dorothy was an active member of the South Britain Congregational Church and an avid traveler and museum attendee.
Dorothy is survived by a daughter, Karen Diesl Bruett of Gladstone, NJ, a son, Warren F. Diesl of Acton, MA; four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years in 2002.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the "Dorothy Peterson Diesl and Francis J. Diesl Scholarship", c/o South Britain Congregational Church, P.O. Box 64, S. Britain, CT 06487 or the Southbury Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 1002, Southbury, CT 06488.

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Funeral: South Britain Congregational Church

Services: A funeral service will be held at the South Britain Congregational Church at the corner of Route 172 and East Flat Hill Rd., South Britain, CT at 11 AM on Saturday, January, 16, 2010.

Visitation: There are no calling hours.