Beloved wife, mother and grandmother Diane Wootton returned to God on December 6, 2018 after a brave battle with ALS.
Born October 20th, 1938 in Ottumwa, Iowa, Diane moved to Arizona in 1942 with her mother Bernice Fletcher. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic elementary and high school where she made life-long friends. Diane worked for Governor Paul Fannin until her marriage to Frank C. Brophy Jr. in 1961. She and Frank had five loving and beloved daughters.
In 1979, Diane married Dr. James Wootton. She loved spending time painting, playing the piano, reading, traveling, skiing, and mahjong games with her childhood friends. Along with Brandy Fishman, she opened a women’s clothing store, The Arrival Boutique, at the Town and Country Shopping Center. She was a passionate learner, attending philosophy, Spanish, photography, and history classes at Phoenix College and ASU. An earnest student, she made deep and lasting friendships with her professors.
Diane will be remembered for her warmth and compassion. She was welcoming to all and her home was always filled with the laughter of friends and relatives from all walks of life, as well as the occasional stray animal that she lovingly adopted. She is survived by her husband, James Wootton; her brother Richard Fletcher; her half-sister Patti O’Malley; her daughters Sallie Brophy Najafi; Francesca Brennan (Steve); Christie Brophy; Fiona Brophy (Tom Hales); and seven grandchildren: Blaise Najafi, Julia Najafi, Blake Brennan, Chase Brennan, Cullen Brennan, Isabelle Hales, and Francesca Hales, and many much-loved step-children and grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Diane was predeceased by her fourth daughter, Julia Brophy, and her parents, Bernice and Harold Fletcher.
Diane’s funeral service will be held at the Brophy Chapel, 4701 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 10:00 A.M. A Rosary will be held prior to the service at the chapel at 9:30 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Diane’s honor to the ALS Association www.alsaz.org.
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