Dianne Landry Kirsch

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 22, 2024

On March 16, 2024, Dianne Landry Kirsch passed away surrounded by loved ones and her favorite music, about one month shy of her 67th birthday. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Dianne was born in New Iberia to Adrienne “Dianne” Landry and Alfred Smith “Smitty” Landry. She graduated from Mount Carmel Academy, where her basketball skills helped the Lady Cubs win a state championship.

Dianne is survived by so many friends that it would take an entire issue of this paper to list them. This is because Dianne had an uncanny ability to connect deeply and nigh-instantly with anyone, from schoolmates like Juliette, Dean, Kathy and Susan, to an incidental acquaintance sitting next to her on the bus. Her insight into the humanity of every person she met drove her long career as a nurse, which began in 1980 when she received her degree from LSU School of Nursing in New Orleans and jumped in to care for the population of a city she loved.

She was married to Irving David Kirsch and had three children, Hannah Louise Kirsch, Harry Benjamin Kirsch and Emma Jordan Kirsch. She raised her family in Sarasota, Florida, where her gumbo parties were the talk of the town and garnered her even more friends for life, like Pam and her bosom pal Ginny. True to Dianne’s giving heart, she was a very important grown-up to many other children, including her niece Cate Landry; nieces and nephews Pierce Hill, Anne Louise Hill, Julianna Hill, Thomas Hill and Mary Elizabeth Hill; and dear friends Malcolm and Celia.

Dianne was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Peter; her sisters Adrienne and Helen, and her sister and best friend Louise, who she cared for until the last.

Dianne requested that her ashes be spread in Tryon Creek State Park where she went on many beautiful runs in the company of her favorite musician, Willie Nelson. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to one of the causes supported by Willie, including support for American farmers, LGBT rights, animal welfare, and family reunification, among others.