Diana C. Dufresne, 78, Massena

MASSENA -- It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Diana C. Dufresne, 78, of Massena, who passed away on September 24, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Diana was born on August 30, 1948, in Casselman, Ontario, the daughter of the late Gerald and Bertha Forgues.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, Leo Dufresne; her son and daughter-in-law, Stefan and Maya Dufresne; her brother and sister-in-law, Royal and Tammy Forgues of Malone; her two granddaughters, Eliane and Gigi; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Her family was an important part of her life, and she will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

Diana attended Massena Central School and continued her education with a deep commitment to learning and helping others. She went on to earn her Master’s degree in Education and another in Family Counseling, and furthered her studies by earning a Family Law Certificate from Pepperdine Law.

Her extensive education and training became the foundation for a remarkable career devoted to helping individuals and families navigate difficult circumstances, resolve conflicts, and find a path forward.

Diana dedicated much of her professional life to helping others.

A marriage and family counselor, she also served as Director of the Rural Law Center and Regional Director of Conflict Resolution Services.

Through her work, she provided Unified Court System-sponsored mediation services for Family Court, City Court, and numerous town and village courts throughout the region.

Over the course of her distinguished career, Diana successfully resolved more than 6,000 mediation and arbitration cases, including matters at the state and federal levels. Bilingual in French and English, she also served as a Court Translator for St. Lawrence and Franklin counties. Her ability to listen, communicate, and help people find common ground touched countless lives throughout her career.

Diana was also a New York State Licensed Real Estate Broker and the proprietor of 1st Class Realty Group in Massena. With more than 25 years of experience in real estate, she took great pride in guiding clients through the process of buying and selling their homes.

Her extensive knowledge of the North Country, combined with her dedication to the people she served, earned her the respect and trust of many throughout the community.

Diana was also an entrepreneur. Together with her husband, Leo, she owned and operated Someplace Different in Moira, New York, for 22 years.

The business was another chapter in the life they built together and reflected Diana’s entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and willingness to take on new endeavors.

Public service held a particularly special place in Diana’s heart. She served on the local Zoning Board of Appeals and as a Massena Village Justice.

Of her many professional accomplishments and the numerous roles she held throughout her life, Diana was especially proud of her service as a judge.

She considered it a great honor to serve her community in this capacity, and she approached the responsibility with the same fairness, compassion, and dedication to helping others that guided her throughout her life.

Beyond her many professional accomplishments and years of public service, Diana will be remembered most for the life she shared with her family, the people she helped, and the lasting impact she made on her community.

Her intelligence, determination, compassion, and willingness to serve others defined a life of purpose.

Diana had a wonderful sense of style and a special talent for making her home uniquely her own.

She loved decorating and had an eye for finding just the right lighting or that one-of-a-kind piece that made a room special.

Shopping for these treasures often turned into memorable adventures with her husband, Leo, and her son, Stefan.

Diana loved traveling in search of something unique, and one of her most recent finds was the perfect bathtub she discovered in Montreal.

For Diana, these adventures were about so much more than decorating—they were about spending time together, enjoying the journey, and creating wonderful memories with the people she loved most.

Diana’s legacy will live on through her family, the many people whose lives she touched, and the community she served so faithfully. She will be deeply loved, greatly missed, and always remembered.

Services will be at the discretion of the family.

We invite those who knew Diane to share their memories, stories, and pictures on her memorial page.

Remembering her life and the joy she brought to others can help us all to celebrate the remarkable woman that she was.

Condolences may be made online at www.fraryfuneralhome.com.