Diane L. (Birch) McKenzie, 82, a resident of North Chelmsford, formerly of Bedford and Lexington, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at High Pointe House, Haverhill, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late John McKenzie with whom she shared 48 years of marriage until his passing in 2008.

She was born in Boston on July 18, 1940, and was the daughter of the late Andrew and Catherine (O’Brien) Birch.

Diane was raised and educated in Lexington, where she was a graduate of Lexington High School with the Class of 1958. She was married in 1960, and she and her husband settled in Bedford to raise their family. She briefly worked part-time for a florist, before returning to work full-time as a data entry manager for Traffic Data Systems. Here she worked for 23 years, before taking a position in vital records at the Town Clerk’s Office for the Town of Lexington. Diane worked in the Town Clerk’s Office for 9 years until her retirement in 2004. In her spare time, she enjoyed puzzles of all kinds, playing Keno, and trying her luck at scratch tickets. She spent many summer days on the beaches of Wells, ME. Most of all, Diane cherished the time she spent with her family.

Diane leaves her children, Robin Donoghue and her husband Michael of Chelmsford, and John McKenzie, Jr. and his wife Rachel of FL; her grandchildren, Michael Donoghue, Jr. of Chelmsford, Andrew Donoghue of Woburn, and Juliana McKenzie of FL. She also leaves her sister-in-law Jan Birch and many nieces and nephews.

Sadly, she is predeceased by her siblings, Donald Birch and Carol Ranger.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm in the Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home, 24 Worthen St., Chelmsford. Her funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Thursday at 10 am. Interment will be held privately. Memorial donations may be made in Diane’s name to LGH TeamWalk for Cancer Care, 295 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854.