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NORWALK, Conn. Diane K. Mulvehill of Norwalk died July 29 as her husband and children held her hands. She was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago but continued to embrace life as she underwent continuous treatment, her family said. She was 67.
She was born March 26, 1945, and raised in Arlington, Wash. After graduating from college, Mulvehill and three friends drove and camped across the country to see what the East Coast was like.
Within days of arriving in August with no prior plans, she secured a position teaching middle school English in Stamford. She met her husband, Urban, and they married in 1972. A 40-year Norwalk resident, Mulvehill taught for eight years before starting her family.
She then taught aerobic exercise for the YMCA, sometimes with her kids in tow, teaching 18-20 classes a week for 12 years. She also gave private lessons and choreographed hundreds of routines for the other instructors.
As her children approached college, Mulvehill went to work for MBI, where she worked until her death. She received the Norwalk Seaport Association Beacon Award three years ago. The award recognized her service as co-chair of the annual Oyster Festival for 10 years and co-chair of the welcoming gates with about 100 volunteers for the past 30 years.
Mulvehill served as one of the five founding members of the magnet school at Columbus and served as president of the Shorefront Park Association, where she was a current board member. She also was a Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Church.
Friends may call from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday at Collins Funeral Home in Norwalk. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Church in Norwalk. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Norwalk Seaport Association or Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital.
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