Diana K. (Stuart) Lucy

Diana K. Lucy passed away peacefully on Monday, February 6, 2023. Diana was born Diana Kathleen Stuart in East Bolden, County Durham, England in 1922.  She was one of four daughters of the late Charles (Pop) and Jessie Stuart.  Known by her nickname -- Dandy -- Diana spent her childhood in the north of England. 

At the age of nineteen, in October, 1941, Diana volunteered for Britain's Women's Auxiliary Air Force, known as the WAAF (now the Women's Royal Air Force). She became a Leading Aircraft Woman, was sent to basic training and subsequently became a radio operator. Like many other WAAF radio operators she was posted to an RAF fighter station on the south coast of England -- in her case it was Chicksands Priory -- to do radio intercept work listening in on German Luftwaffe radio transmissions. 

These intercept operators recorded the key coded information for onward delivery to Bletchley Park where a decryption center had been organized. Intercepts from all over southern England were analyzed and the information became an essential feature of what came to be known as cracking  the "Enigma Code", the Nazi's highly effective encrypted communications system.

Dandy met her future husband Frank (Francis C. Lucy) at the Chicksands RAF base where he was stationed as an armorer for B-17 bombers with the US Army Air Force.  They actually met at a Glenn Miller dance, just like in the movies !  Frank Lucy was from Water Street, Newburyport and they hit it off immediately. 

They survived the war and were married in June, 1945 in Shaftesbury, England.  Frank was demobilized and sent home. Diana followed in March, 1946 as one of a large group of "GI Bride" voyages coming to America aboard the great Cunard transatlantic liner, the RMS Queen Mary.  

They began their married lives together at 246 Water Street in "Joppa",  the old fishermen's section of Newburyport.  Dandy & Frank had four boys - Michael, Mark, Ian and Adrian. Sadly, Mark and Adrian died some years ago.  

As her boys got a bit older, Diana worked for many years as a cardiology technician at the Anna Jacques Hospital. Following her retirement, she worked part-time at Old Newbury Crafters on Inn Street, where she was more than enthusiastic to promote Newburyport artisans.

Diana had a passion for her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and her grand group of neighbors and friends. She loved reading, antiquing and travel. She  crossed the Atlantic many times to keep in touch with her British relatives and to enable her boys to know their British roots as well. 

She leaves her sons, Michael S. Lucy and his wife Patricia, and Ian C. Lucy and his wife Susan, as well as two grandchildren, Meghan Holt and her husband Peter, and Catherine Nelson and her husband Ryan. She also leaves three wonderful great-grandchildren – Margot Holt, James Holt and Caleb Holt; nieces, Honor Patch, Felicity Williams, Lalage Knight, and Lucy Elms; as well as several great-nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and her husband, Diana was predeceased by her sisters; Peachy Stuart, June Stuart, and Heather Williams.

Diana maintained an avid interest in people, politics and the comings and goings of Newburyport to the very end. She was a great advocate of those less fortunate than she and passed along this sense of responsibility for one’s community to her extended family. Diana was a caring, classy lady who did a great deal in her 100 + years  -- for her family and for those in need -- in her own quiet way.  She will be greatly missed.

A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family. The Twomey, LeBlanc, & Conte Funeral Home 193 High St. Newburyport MA 01950 is assisting Mrs. Lucy’s family with her arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in Diana’s memory can be made by donation to the Newburyport Council on Aging, 331 High Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.

To offer online condolences please visit www.tlcfuneralhome.com

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