Diana Thayer Watlington

KITTERY – Diana Thayer Watlington, of Kittery, died at Portsmouth Regional Hospital on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Born in 1951, the daughter of Rosalind Garges Watlington and Francis William Harrison Watlington, Diana grew up in Bermuda, where she attended the Bermuda High School for Girls, and later Wyoming Seminary College Prep School in Kingston, Pa. She received a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art from Ithaca College and later furthered her studies at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Maine College of Art.

In 1972, Diana married Theodore Allen Ruetenik, and they made their home in West Concord, Mass. where they raised their family, eventually moving to Cambridge, Mass. in 1996. Diana shared her love for art and music with her children, and her home was filled with the sounds of piano, flute, guitar, and singing, and her paintings covered the walls.

Diana exhibited her art in many local galleries and was a founding member of the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, Mass., where she taught art classes and maintained a studio. She exhibited her work around the Boston, Mass. area and sold prints, greeting cards, and original coloring books throughout Bermuda.

Diana had a restless spirit, and her love of travel took her to locations across the United States, including Albuquerque, N.M.; San Diego, Calif.; Portland, and Old Orchard Beach. She documented her travels in hundreds of journals and sketches. In her later years, she was increasingly devoted to her Christian faith, and was a familiar figure at church services and bible readings from Portsmouth, N.H. to Portland, including the Cathedral Church of St. Luke.

Diana is survived by her brother, Bill “Byron” Watlington; daughter, Kerry Abukhalaf, son, Daniel Ruetenik; and grandson, Mazen Abukhalaf.

She has been laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery in Arlington, Mass. Condolences may be shared at remickgendron.com/obituaries.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to Preble Street. Online, or at the following address:

Preble Street,

55 Portland St.

Portland, ME 04101