Diane DeVries ... enjoyed riding dressage; at 46

MILTON - Diane DeVries, 46, passed away at her home on February 11, 2023 following a long illness. She was born Diane Marie Chobanian on February 1, 1977 in Dover, NH, the daughter of George & Marie Chobanian.

Diane grew up in Lebanon, ME, and resided in Dover and Milton, NH with her loving husband Chris DeVries. She was a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas in Dover, NH, where she sang and worked in theater, surrounding herself with a new group of lifelong friends. She attended the University of Southern Maine in Gorham, ME, graduating with a degree in English.
As a child, Diane grew up on a 40 acre farm, where she developed her love of horses and exploring nature. An only child, Diane spent long days outside at the farm, with friends or alone, studying birds and insects. From early days, she worked at nearby horse barns, learned to jump and ride dressage, performing in local competitions, and eventually getting her own beloved horse Kayna. She excelled at reading at an early age, and displayed a young talent at sketch art. She would pick snails off the rocks during summer evening visits to Wells Beach, and trips to Acadia quickly grew her love of the seashore. These experiences fed her love of environment and art that she carried through her life.

Diane had a passion for helping others, a gift for bringing people together, and a light about her soul that attracted others to her. Early in her career, she guided her passion to start Digrafika, a graphic design and marketing company, through which she helped other small businesses improve their brand awareness, and created logos that are visible today across many seacoast businesses. She served for a time as Vice President of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Board, where she thrived on connecting others and strengthening the business community of Rochester.

Diane had a lifelong passion for music and singing. She joined chorus in Junior High, singing solos through High School productions. In her adult years, she sang for nearly 20 years with the Granite State Choral Society of Rochester. She served for a time as Vice President of the chorus board, and focused on strengthening the visibility and community engagement of the chorus. For the chorus' 40th anniversary, she led the commissioning of an original piece of music about the city of Rochester, and co-wrote original lyrics to the piece. She participated in performing the original piece in the city of Rochester.

Later in her career, she changed directions to follow her deep connection with nature. She enrolled at the University of New Hampshire, and acquired a degree in Environmental Science. This helped her join NH Sea Grant in 2021, part of UNH Extension. A perfect fit for the organization, she quickly helped Sea Grant increase the success of their community outreach programs, connecting with many volunteers. This opportunity brought her on many trips to Appledore Island at the Isles of Shoals, experiences that fed her soul with the beauty of its small, unique habitat.

Diane loved many hobbies. She had a passion for animals and had many through her life, including a goat named Jesse The Goat. She designed and built a backyard chicken coop and kept hens. She chose to study martial arts and became a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She sang as lead in a cover band with local business friends. She loved kayaking and boating at Ossipee Lake with friends and family. She deeply loved exploring New Hampshire's White Mountains, and shared that love with anyone that would join. With her husband Chris, they shared a passion for hiking, summiting more than 75 mountains over her last six years, including six summits of Mount Washington. Chris and Diane completed 32 of New Hampshire's 48 4000-footers together.

Diane is survived by her husband of 19 years, Chris DeVries of Milton, NH, her parents George & Marie Chobanian of Lebanon, ME, father-in-law Mark DeVries of Exeter, NH, brother-in-law Dana DeVries, his wife Amy, niece Lily and nephew Miles of Litchfield, NH, her godchild Freya Kenyon of Cumberland, ME, numerous aunts, uncles & cousins.