Obituaries

Diane Kline Lerner 2/15/41-5/20/22
Diane passed away from pancreatic cancer at home with her family present. The cancer diagnosis came only a month ago, but was in an advanced stage when discovered.
Diane was born in Medford, Mass to Dave and Dottie Kline. She graduated from Medford High in 1958 and attended Tufts where she graduated magna Cum Laude in Physical therapy.
Diane married Irwin “Red” Lerner, her high school sweetheart in 1962. Jan was born in 1964 and Jim followed in 1967.
The family lived in Medford before moving to Peabody, Mass.
Diane settled into her career as a Physical Therapist working at a variety of Boston area hospitals and nursing homes. When Red got sick in 1974, Diane was Wonder Woman being mom, caregiver and breadwinner until Red’s death in 1976. Then, she was just WonderWoman doing it all.
In 1978 Barry Howe, a childhood friend came back into Diane’s life and a whirlwind romance commenced. Barry and Diane married and moved into Barry’s Venice, California home with Jan and Jim. Diane resumed her career in Los Angeles. Even after their divorce, Diane stayed in Venice with her children. She enjoyed the snow free life and playing year round outside tennis.
Diane met Ken Bodenstein, a fellow tennis aficionado in the late 80s and they married in 1992 and settled in Marina Del Rey. Diane and Ken enjoyed a tennis filled lifestyle as well as travel. Participation the Maccabiah games in Israel was a highlight for both. Diane and Ken were married for 24 years before Ken’s death in 2016. Diane continued to be active seeing friends and family as well as continuing to work part time. Her grandchildren, Jake and Riley were a constant joy to her.
Diane leaves behind her brother, Burt Kline and his wife, Carol; her children, Jan DeFeo and her husband, Guy and Jim Lerner and his wife, Lori; her niece, Sharon Ostroger and her husband, Bill. Diane loved her family and friends fiercly. She loved tennis and coffee. She will be missed terribly.