Diane Kathryn Kanca Dwyer, of Rye, N.Y., passed away on March 27, 2019, at home surrounded by her family.

Born October 3, 1955 in Fairfield, Conn., she was the daughter of John and Julianne (Terdy) Kanca. After graduating from Andrew Ward High School in 1973, she received a Nursing degree from the University of Connecticut in 1977 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Pace Law School in 1982.

She began her career as a registered nurse and later built a successful practice as a trial attorney at Voute, Lohrfink, Magro & McAndrew, LLP, of White Plains, N.Y.

“Diane loved Rye, where she lived for more than thirty years,” said her husband Robert Dwyer. “And among her passions were Rye Town Park, whose preservation and protection she dedicated time to, and Soul Ryeders, whose good work she experienced first-hand.”

In addition to Mr. Dwyer, her husband of 28 years, she is survived by her step-children, Devin Dwyer and her husband Adam Ciarleglio of Washington, D.C., and Sean Dwyer and his wife Sereen of Chicago; siblings Roswitha Cusick and her husband Joseph of Middlebury, Conn., John Kanca and his wife Janet of Middlebury, Conn., and Cheryl Sarno and her husband John of Glen Rock, N.J.; twenty-four dear nieces and nephews; and her beloved yellow lab, Coco.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Church of the Resurrection on March 30. Donations may be made to memorials established in honor of Diane Dwyer at: Friends of Rye Town Park (www.friendsofryetownpark.com), and the Mayo Clinic dedicated to uterine cancer research (www.mayoclinic.org).