Diane Bourgon Shepler passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Diane was born on March 24, 1947, in Huntington, Québec, to Lionel and Rejane Bourgon. She grew up in a French-speaking household in New Haven, Vt. Diane was a tall, skinny farm girl who excelled at basketball at the former Beeman Academy.
After high school Diane attended Champlain College, where she obtained an associate’s degree in business. She enjoyed coming home on the weekends and cruising in her girlfriend’s little red corvette.
Diane spent her professional career in the snow industry, working in sales and finance. She worked with all of the big names in the ski industry: Rossignol, Nordica and eventually Burton, where she enjoyed walking to work. Appreciated for her professionalism as well as her positive, playful attitude, Diane was a model employee and maintained close friendships with colleagues, especially from Nordica. Diane enjoyed the Nordica days and the travel associated with it. She could tell stories of singing on stage with Leon Russell, fitting Nordica ski boots on Don Johnson (star of “Miami Vice”) and getting an autographed note by heavyweight champion George Foreman.
Diane was a valued friend to everyone she met. People refer to her as, “the first person I met in Vermont, my best roommate, my travel partner, my golf buddy, nicest neighbor ever and the person who always made me laugh.”
Everyone loved Diane, and Diane loved being active — walking, biking, skiing, playing pickleball and golfing. Diane even has a hole in one to her credit. After retiring from Burton, Diane worked seasonally at Lake Champlain Chocolates. Diane also enjoyed investing in the stock market and became a day trader in retirement.
Diane is survived by her husband, Gregory Shepler; her sister, Colette Hancock; and her brothers, Clement Bourgon and Marc Bourgon. Diane was a loving stepmother to Sam Shepler, Malcolm Shepler and Sinclair Shepler. Her two grandchildren, Benjamin Shepler and Sophie Shepler, loved Diane, calling her “Gammy.” Diane was a proud and loving aunt to Melissa Cole, Kaitlin Bourgon, Kenneth Bourgon and Danielle Yeatman.
Diane’s final three years were challenged by dementia. We are thankful for her kind and patient caregivers: Norma Guzman, Hannah Smick, Nora Rhodes, Sarah Nardi, Adele Dienno and the entire University of Vermont home hospice staff.
Although more of a humorist than a philosopher, Diane’s life attitude easily aligned with the teachings of Lao Tzu who said: “Make your heart like a lake, with a calm surface and great depths of kindness.” Diane was calm and kind, even when challenged by dementia.
A memorial in celebration of Diane’s life will take place in the summer.
To help others suffering from dementia, please consider making a gift to the Alzheimer’s Association of Vermont or Age Well Vermont. Anyone wishing to make a donation in honor of Diane’s life can make a gift in her name to her favorite charities, the Vermont Foodbank or the Ronald McDonald House of Vermont.