DIANE BOURGON SHEPLER

BURLINGTON — Diane Bourgon Shepler passed away peacefully at home Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. Diane was born March 24, 1947, in Huntington, Québec, Canada, to Lionel and Rejane Bourgon. She grew up in a French-speaking household in New Haven, Vt.

Diane was proud of her Canadian roots, remained bilingual throughout her life and enjoyed travelling in Quebec to visit her cousins, aunts and uncles. Growing up in Addison County, 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 going cruising to New York State with friend Jean O’Connor in her 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 every day. Appreciated for her professionalism as well as her positive, playful attitude, Diane was a model employee and maintained close friendships with colleagues. Diane enjoyed the travel associated with the snow industry. She was lucky enough to visit beautiful mountain ski resorts and exciting cities.

Diane loved sharing stories of singing onstage with Leon Russell, fitting Nordica ski boots on Don Johnson (star of “Miami Vice”) and getting an autographed note by heavyweight champion George Foreman after a championship fight in Las Vegas.

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, lucky hole No. 13 at Basin Harbor, where she and her husband were members. After retiring from Burton, Diane worked seasonally at Lake Champlain Chocolates. Diane also enjoyed investing in the stock market and became a successful day trader in retirement. She was diligent in her market research but always humble in explaining her success to others.

Diane is survived by her husband, Gregory Shepler; her sister, Colette Hancock (Ocala, Fla.); and her brothers, Clement Bourgon (Vergennes), and Marc Bourgon (Valleyfield, Quebec). Diane was predeceased by her older brother Gatean (Jan. 1968), whom she admired. 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 (Florida), Kaitlin Bourgon (Ottawa), Kenneth Bourgon (Montreal) and Danielle Yeatman (Virginia).

Diane’s final three years were challenged by dementia. Diane was very appreciative of her caregivers, including her high school friend Jean O’Connor and Jean’s granddaughter Sierra, as well as the University of Vermont home hospice staff.

Although more of a humorist than a philosopher, Diane’s life attitude easily aligned with the teachings of Chinese Philosopher 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 at the Saint John’s Club in Burlington, Vt., Sunday, Aug. 30, starting at 12:30 p.m. All of Diane’s friends are invited to join her family in this celebration.

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. ◊