Obituary of Paul John Diefenbach, Jr

It is with great sadness that the family of Paul J. Diefenbach Jr. announce his passing after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on Thursday September 14, 2017 at the age of 62 surrounded by his love ones. Paul was born in Framingham on November 10, 1954. He was the son of the late Mary T (Lanza) Diefenbach and Paul J Diefenbach of Chatham, MA. Paul graduated from Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in 1973. He attended Middle Tennessee State University from 1976-1979. Paul worked for Costco Wholesale in Danvers as an inventory auditor for the past 27 years. He later had to give up a career he loved due to his illness. One of Paul’s proudest accomplishments was serving on the NF Golf committee bringing awareness to Neurofibromatosis for the past 19 years. Paul was a kind and generous soul to all who was lucky enough to know him. Being from New England, he was an avid Boston sports fan who especially loved the Patriots. Over the past year, Paul was blessed to travel with his family to the warm waters of the Caribbean, Fort Myers FL to attend the Red Sox training camp, “Las Vegas, Baby!” and sunny Southern California where he and his family were able to make some beautiful memories. He will be deeply missed and loved by all who knew him. A special thank you to the Oncology Team of Beverly Hospital for their love and kindness throughout his journey. He is survived by his wife Trish Mahoney- Diefenbach, his three sons, Paul J Diefenbach III and his wife Tara (O’Keefe) Diefenbach of Peabody, Michael Diefenbach of Los Angeles, CA, and Scott Diefenbach of Peabody, his step son, Thomas Dawson and his wife Djamila of the Netherlands, his grandson, Thomas Diefenbach, with another grandchild on the way, of Peabody, his best friend and companion Zach, his father-in-Law and mother-in-law William and Joan Mahoney of Beverly. His brothers, John Diefenbach and wife Jan of North Carolina, James Diefenbach of Peabody, Dennis Diefenbach and his partner Karen Gauthier of Peabody, his sisters, Donna Hopkins and her husband Kenneth of Peabody, Karen Provencher and her husband James of Merrimac, Deborah Panunzio and her husband Robert of Naples, Maine, and is also by several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. Paul was predeceased by his step daughter Erin N. Dawson. His Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday at the Conway, Cahill- Brodeur Funeral Home 82 Lynn Street, Peabody to which family and friends are asked to gather at 4:00 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to a charity of one’s choice. Paul’s favorites were NF, St Jude’s, and the Branch Church of Peabody. Burial will be private.