†Sister Diane Dehn, OP

“Your word, O Lord, is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path…
I have resolved to do your will forever.” (Psalm 119:105,112)

These words from the psalmist were a lifelong source of strength and direction for Sister Diane Dehn. They guided her through her many years of devoted service to the Congregation and, in a particular way, shaped her ministry at Aquinas College, where she accompanied countless students along their academic paths.

Diane was born June 25, 1937, in Belding, Michigan, the third child and only daughter of John and Margaret Talbot Dehn. As an infant, she was gravely ill, and her mother promised to pray a Rosary every day of her life if the child lived. Reflecting on this later, Diane would say with gentle humor, “How could I lose?” She also felt her father was a steadfast intercessor for her; he died shortly after her graduation from high school, but she continued to feel his presence and support.

Diane attended Belding public elementary and high schools and then enrolled at Aquinas College where the sense of a call to religious life deepened. It was there, she said, that she began to recognize more clearly the “lamp unto my feet and a light for my path.” That path led her to Marywood as a postulant in September 1957. At reception, she took the name of John Margaret in honor of her parents, a name that she carried until the changes following Vatican Council II. After profession, she completed her undergraduate studies at Aquinas College, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in 1960.

For the next eight years, Sister John Margaret taught in elementary schools at St. Mary, Saginaw; Marywood; and Our Lady of Grace, Dearborn Heights. She later reflected, “My years of teaching were busy ones, and community living gave me the opportunity to share with many of our Sisters. Their love and concern have been a sustaining influence in my life. I have been richly inspired by the dedication of their lives.” During these years, she pursued further studies, attending St. Paul Seminary in Saginaw and earning a master’s degree in religious education from Aquinas Institute of Religious Studies. In the summer of 1967, she had an NDEA grant to study at Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma.

In 1969, Sister Diane spent a year at Central Michigan University, earning a master’s degree in Elementary Administration and Supervision. Though prepared for school administration, her gifts soon drew her back to Aquinas College, where she served as a freshman class advisor and instructor in education. From 1970 to 1972, she held the position of Associate Dean of Students—affectionately known during that time as “Dean Dehn.”

As the needs of the College evolved, so did Sister Diane’s roles. She returned to the Education Department as an administrative assistant and served for two years as acting chair. In 1979, she became coordinator of the Directed Study Program for continuing education, while also serving as an academic advisor. In this work, she found her true niche. Her quiet competence, warm presence, and steady patience made her a cornerstone of the advising office.

Returning adult students, in particular, found in her a source of reassurance and clarity. She had a remarkable ability to navigate the complexities of academic requirements and institutional processes, helping students cut through what often seemed like overwhelming bureaucracy. Always calm and attentive, she listened carefully and guided thoughtfully. Many would later recall her influence with gratitude, often saying, “She set me on the right path.”

Her care extended beyond the campus as well. When her mother became a resident at Villa Elizabeth, Sister Diane faithfully spent her lunch hours visiting her, while also forming gentle, meaningful connections with others who lived there. This quiet fidelity to relationships was a hallmark of her life.

Sister Diane was known by all as a calm and gracious presence—gentle in manner, generous in spirit. She asked for little and gave much. She found joy in simple pleasures: walking outdoors, practicing Tai Chi with dedication, reading, and baking for others. These everyday expressions of care reflected the deeper rhythm of her life, rooted in prayer and attentiveness.

Looking toward the future, she once wrote, “We do not know what the future holds, of course, but I trust that God will continue to provide me with love and loving people to inspire and sustain me, that I too might assist others in realizing the light for their paths through life.”

This trust shaped her life. Through decades of faithful, often quiet service, Sister Diane became for many that very light—steady, guiding, and enduring.

Sr. Diane is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, friends, and members of her Dominican Community.