Diane Afton Aeschliman, age 78, passed away at her home in Killingworth, Connecticut on October 15, 2023. She was surrounded by family and the warm glow of picture lights that illuminated the vibrant paintings she spent her life creating. An artist, wife, mother, grandmother and teacher, Diane led a life of sharing her unique way of seeing beauty and light in the world.

Diane was born in Washington D.C. in 1944 to Margaret Laun Afton and Frank Afton, the third child in the family after her sister Wendy and brother John. After her parents’ divorce when she was three, Diane, her mother and her siblings had a life of adventure, which included a cross-country road trip to move from the east coast to California, several years in Paris and back to San Francisco for high school. Diane was a (reluctant) debutante at Palo Alto High. Always an artist and inspired by her artistic exposure and experiences in Europe, she attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. On a blind date she met the love of her life, Anthony Aeschliman, who was attending Brown. Their relationship was one of romance and humor as manifested in stacks of handmade cards that they made for one another that are works of art in and of themselves. They were married on October 10, 1968 and moved to 44 North Court Street at the base of College Hill in Providence, a charming yellow house with a brick red front door, where they brought their first daughter, Amy, home from the hospital on Valentine’s Day in 1972. 

With their second daughter, Amanda, on the way, Diane and Tony moved their family to a stunning red farmhouse with white trim in nearby Berkley, Massachusetts. This life was the one Diane wanted—extensive fields stretched out with plenty of space for a garden full of tomatoes, vegetables, and rows and rows of brightly-hued zinnias that were often the subjects of her colorful paintings. Many animals rounded out the picturesque landscape of those years, including two geese, three cats, countless sheep, a black and white dog, and a pony. The interior of the house was the work of an artist—every room rich with color and pattern, and interesting, lovely, and high quality furnishings. Her turpentine-scented studio on the second floor had a picture window that looked out on the weeping willows, sunlit fields, gardens and animals that she loved so much. Despite being a mother of young children, she continued to paint, won several first place awards at the Providence Art Club, and was elected to be a lifetime member as a young artist.

In 1980 the family moved to a 1789 center-chimney colonial in Killingworth, Connecticut. Diane and Tony had found another lovely and pastoral place for their family to settle and for Diane to continue to pursue the things she loved: painting, gardening, and being a mother. The home was one of six that had been taken down and rebuilt around a common that provided a sense of green open space with plenty of room for another lovely garden. Diane was a nurturing mother and worked hard to provide especially nutritious and delicious meals (that were also always served on pretty plates and artfully garnished). She grew many of the vegetables she cooked in her garden, coached her girls’ softball team and helped with many a school project. Her daughters often came home to the smell of freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies or homemade chicken soup.

Diane continued to paint and was extremely prolific—she painted hundreds of still lifes, landscapes, and figure paintings along with countless portrait commissions. She also began teaching at the Lyme Art Academy and Lyme Art Association, where she found a warm community of artists who became her dear friends. She was someone who always went the extra mile and loved both giving her time and energy to these places and connecting with students and peers. An Elected Artist at the Lyme Art Association, she served on its Board of Directors for three years. Among other accolades, she was a six-time award recipient of the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, and her work was published in International Artist magazine.

Diane was also an active member of the Killingworth Congregational Church. She and her close friends Ingrid and Sandy spent countless hours on fundraising efforts to support the church through quilt-making and volunteering their time at the summer and winter fairs. All three of them gifted artists, they created an unforgettable Christmas marketplace of lovely things. Singing in the church choir was also something that Diane always looked forward to and enjoyed. 

Diane loved her role as a grandmother and relished every moment of being a Nonna to Renee, Emily, Jack, Alexa and Neve. She shared her gift of making all things beautiful with them, and their experience of every holiday was like what her daughters experienced—everything was done with a special touch and an eye for detail. Easter tables had crisp white cloths, lilies in pretty pots, shiny brass candlesticks, porcelain bunnies, and a scattering of pastel chocolate eggs. Beautiful baskets for collecting dyed eggs were adorned with thick satin ribbon. Easter egg decorating was brought to a new level with a rainbow of dye and a hundred markers of every color. Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas—each holiday was a feast for the eyes and a memorable experience.

Diane will always be remembered for her quiet generosity, her strong will, her refusal to accept B.S. of any kind, and her deep love for and commitment to her husband, family and work. She was a maverick and a unique beauty inside and out. Her legacy of caring and seeking out the good and beautiful things in people and in the world will be carried on through her children and grandchildren; we are all blessed to have her paintings as daily reminders of her presence and the joyful way she looked at and lived her life.

Diane is survived by her devoted husband, Tony; her two daughters, Amy Kennedy and Amanda Burton; her sons-in-law Jim Kennedy and Jeff Burton; her five grandchildren, Renee and Emily Kennedy and Jack, Alexa, and Neve Burton; and her sister Wendy Rieder.

There will be a service for her at the Killingworth Congregational Church on November 4 at 11 a.m. Diane’s family wishes to honor her by setting up an endowed annual art prize at the Lyme Art Association. In lieu of flowers, donations to the establishment of this prize may be made by clicking here or by using the following dedicated link: https://lymeartassociation.org/diane-aeschliman-memorial-fund/