Obituary of Diane T. Bouffier-McNierney

Rotterdam- Diane T. Bouffier-McNierney, 60, passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Ellis Hospital after a brief illness.

Born on Long Island, NY on April 19, 1963, she was the daughter of Geraldine (Martucci) Prudenti and the late Anthony Prudenti.

Diane was raised in the Patchogue area and attended Patchogue-Medford High School, Class of 1981.  She went on to attend Suffolk County Community College where she received her degree in business administration.   After receiving her degree, Diane worked as an insurance agent for AllState Insurance. 

She married the late Jerry Bouffier, who passed away in 2013, and together, they relocated from Long Island to upstate NY where they raised their family. 

On March 15, 2015, Diane married James “Jim” McNierney in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

Diane had a love for cooking. Earlier on in life, she was tutored by her grandmother and worked in her father’s restaurant. She started as a server before realizing her short temper for rude people would find her a place in the kitchen. This is where her passion began with food, cooking and being with her family.  Because of Diane’s great cooking skills, she competed against and beat Bobby Flay with her meatball recipe. She loved cooking not just because of her love for cuisine, which she did, but for what food meant to her. It was her way of bringing the most important thing in her life together which was her family and friends. Of all the things Diane loved and enthused over, from hand crocheting blankets, sunbathing in shangri- la, or shopping for beautiful Louis Vuitton bags, Diane's true passion in life was her family. “Family first” a quote that rings in the ears of all those who survive her know everything Diane did was for her love of bringing her family together.

She was the best storyteller, whether it was a story you never heard before or one that she had told a thousand times, her smile would shine bright as the sun and her laugh would envelope everyone in the room.  You could not walk away from any interaction where Diane was in story mode.  She would walk your mind through the story as if youwere there with her. She would leave everyone she told stories to with a wide smile and a stomach ache from her ability to make anyone laugh.

Being a true friend, Diane would do anything for anyone in need. To know her, was to love her and everyone who had ever met her, loved her.

Her proudest accomplishments were her three daughters.

She is survived by her loving husband, James McNierney; beloved children, Sara (Eric) Sauer, Julianne (Dalton Cooke) Bouffier, Brielle (Danae Fowler) Bouffier and James (Arwen) McNierney; proud grandma of Amelia McNierney and Denver Rae Sauer; Her mother, Geraldine Anthony Prudenti; siblings Lisa (Kurt) Nau, Janice (Kenneth) Pagano, James (Annmarie) Prudenti, Anthony (Paula) Prudenti, and a host of nieces and nephews. 

A celebration of life will be held privately at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Diane’s name to the American Heart Association, 4 Atrium Drive, #100, Albany, NY 12205 or the American Cancer Society, 1 Penny Lane, Latham, NY 12110.