Colonel, Ret.,  Diane Kay Corcoran, 76 passed away peacefully surrounded her wife and close friends at University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC on March 5, 2023.  Diane was a decorated veteran who started her career in Vietnam and retired soon after Desert Storm in 1993.  She spent 26 years in active duty.  Diane's military career was the impetus for her life long dedication to assisting active duty and veterans who experienced combat trauma and near death experiences (NDEs).  She ran programs to educate clinicians about what to do when someone reports an NDE and about the signs that indicate a need for support and how to provide it. She also ran monthly discussion support groups for Veterans.  She was active in the International Associate of Near Death Studies (IANDS) since its inception 40 years ago.  She served as IANDS president several times over the decades and also served in many other roles.  She established the Col. Diane Corcoran Veterans Fund (https://iands.app.neoncrm.com…) through which her service to Veterans will continue into the future.   for addition information about Diane's service to IANDS, go to https://www.iands.org/1707-re….

In addition to her service to IANDs, Diane was an amazing support of older individuals needing help because they were frail and vulnerable and had complicated health and social needs.  She also supported a young women from Africa to attend nursing school in the United States. 

Diane was born on July 20, 1946 in Rochester NY to her parents, John Henry Corcoran and Mother Arlene Jane Keople Corcoran.  Following her retirement from the Army, Diane worked in consulting in the DC area.  In 1999, she met her future spouse, Ruth Anderson, with whom she spent 23 years.  They married when it became legal in 2015.  They settled in Durham NC in 2001,  at which point Diane retired from consulting.  

Diane was predeceased by her parents John and Jane.  She is survived by her wife, Ruth, dear pet toy poodle Murphy Louise, and siblings Craig Corcoran, his wife Patricia and Kevin Corcoran and his wife Betsy.  She is also survived by her many nieces and nephews including Russel and Chad (sons of Craig) and Ryan, Carrie, Mark, Chelsea, Matthew and Tyler and step niece and nephew, Daniel Bader  and Jennifer Bader Hall (children of Kevin). 

In lieu of flowers, please send donation to the Col. Diane Corcoran Veterans Fund at https://iands.app.neoncrm.com… Three memorials/celebrations of life are planned.  IANDS is hosting a virtual celebration on March 19 at 1 pm eastern (link:https://isgo.iands.org/meeting/celebration-of-the-life-of-diane-corcoran/).  A memorial will be held at Carol Woods (750 Weaver Dairy RD, Chapel Hill, NC) on March 21 at 1 pm in the Assembly Hall with a reception to follow in the Social Lounge.  A third memorial is being planned in Rochester NY--details are in process

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/diane-corcoran/obituary/

Copy