Diane A. (Blethen) Sewall

Diane A. (Blethen) Sewall
5/27/41 - 5/12/2026

Diane A Sewall passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday morning, 5/12/26.  She was just shy of her 85th birthday. 

Diane was born in Saco, Maine.  The oldest of 3 children to Agnes (Bartlett) and George Blethen.  She spent her early years in York Beach, Maine.  She loved her time in York Beach and would often reminisce about helping her Grandmother in her Boarding House and  tell us about her Father’s filling station.  Diane inherited their entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude and carried it with her til the end.

Diane’s love for York Beach and the ocean never lessened.  It was her happy place and that love has passed on to her children and grandchildren.  Around age 10 her family relocated to Kittery, Maine - considered to be the sticks back then!  She lived there, graduating from Traip Academy and getting a job as a Secretary until, on a blind date in 1962, her fate was sealed - she met Stanley Sewall and that was that! During most of their courtship Stanely was traveling the world as a Merchant Marine. Diane kept all the letters he sent to her during that time - the children have those letters and will treasure them always.  They married on May 25, 1963 and went on the have 5 children, live in 6 houses in 5 states and run several businesses together. 

While Diane would have considered herself to be a Stay-at-home-Mom and housewife in the early years, she was always so much more than that.  She sewed beautiful dresses for her girls, knit, canned her own garden produce, was an award winning Avon Lady and eventually discovered Depression Glass.  When the family moved to Poughkeepsie, NY she joined and served as the President of the area Depression Glass Club. She and Stanley traveled the country going to Depression Glass Shows, and were well regarded by all who knew them.  Diane always loved the trips to Depression Glass shows and seeing different parts of the country - her favorite trip ever included a stop at Graceland!  Her love of Elvis never waned during her life, and included having a subscription to Sirius XM for the car so she could listen to the Elvis station during their travels.  She also was an early adopter of EBay for buying and selling Depression Glass - which was way easier than the original method of a Depression Glass Newspaper that was published in the early days and used snail mail - can you imagine?

She and her partner, MaryLou, ran an antique shop in upstate NY for years.  Her family all has treasures in their house that Diane came across over the years - she was gifted at finding the coolest pieces.  Diane made many long lasting friendships during her time in the shop and in the world of antiques and depression glass. 

Diane is survived by her daughter Mallory (Sewall) O’Shea of Poughkeepsie, NY, Jennifer (Sewall) Elwyn and her husband Philip Elwyn of Atlanta, GA, Jeremy Sewall and his wife Lisa of Wellesley, MA and Amanda (Sewall) Hohlstein and her husband Mark of Sheffield, MA. as well as her sister Claire (Blethen) Smothers of Kittery, Ma. and her Sister-in-law Paula Sewall of York, ME.  She was the proud Grammy to 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren and leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Stanley Sewall, her daughter Mary Beth (Sewall) Berkel and her brother, Larry Blethen.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you send donations to your local Meals on Wheels - they are a group that our Mother loved and always looked forward to their visits each week. 

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