Obituary of Mary T (Lanza) Diefenbach

. Mary T. (Lanza) Diefenbach, 76, of Peabody, died early Monday morning at the Seacoast Nursing Home in Gloucester after a long illness. She was born in Winthrop on July 5, 1934, the daughter of the late Vincent and Caroline (Perry) Lanza and was raised in East Boston before moving to Peabody in 1966. She worked for Ann & Hope for 32 years and made many friends through work. She loved to watch her son John play school sports, especially football. She also enjoyed bingo, watching wrestling and visiting with family and friends. She enjoyed her 16 grandchildren who will miss her dearly. She is survived by her seven children and their spouses, Paul Diefenbach and Tricia Mahoney of Peabody, John Diefenbach and his wife Jan of North Carolina, Donna Hopkins and her husband Kenneth of Peabody, Karen Provencher and her husband James of Groveland, Deborah Panunzio and her husband Robert of Beverly, James Diefenbach of Haverhill, Dennis Diefenbach and Karen Gauthier of Peabody, two brothers, Robert Lanza of Peabody, Richard Lanza of Florida, 16 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Vincent and Francis Lanza, Lorraine Randall and Caroline Ford. Her funeral service will be held on Friday at 10:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. John’s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Friends of Seacoast Nursing Home, 292 Washington St., Gloucester, MA 01930.