Joan B. Dietz

Springfield - Joan B. Dietz, 90, of Springfield, MA died on January 7, 2018 after a brief illness. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio to Frank and Mary M. Batteiger and was raised in Youngstown and Cleveland, OH by her mother after her father’s death. She was a 1949 graduate of Flora Stone Mather College (now Case Western Reserve University) with a Bachelors in Psychology and a minor in Chemistry. After her marriage in 1950, she lived in Sandusky, Columbus, and Toledo, OH; Port Jefferson, NY; Toledo again; Dataw Island, SC; and finally in Springfield, MA. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Earl D. Dietz and her daughter Kerry L. Dietz and her partner Eva Schocken of Springfield, MA, as well as many nieces and nephews. When she and her husband retired to Dataw Island, she participated actively in the design of their new house and was an active and enthusiastic supporter of their community, where she lived for 25 years. She served on committees of the Dataw Owners Association, tutored math for many years as a volunteer with the Adopt-A-School program, and collected roadside litter for the Keep Beaufort County Beautiful program (the “Silver Crested Litter Pickers”). She was one of the original members, and a past President, of what is now the very large and enthusiastic Croquet Club of Dataw Island. She played in tournaments both locally and in the Southeast and acquired a nice number of trophies to show for her efforts. Her other great interest was participating in music groups, including the Lowcountry Chorale, which she helped to found, and in which she sang Second Tenor. She also sang in the Beaufort Belles, a ladies barbershop group, where her low voice made her a bass. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation, PO Box 2233, Beaufort, SC 29901 or Technical College of the Lowcountry Foundation, 921 Ribaut Road, Beaufort, SC 29902. New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA 01108 has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit www.nefcc.net

Joan B. Dietz

June 29, 1927 - January 7, 2018