Sr. Mary Diane Masson, CSSF, entered eternal life Jan. 25 at Gianna House in Eastpointe. She was 72 years old and a religious sister for 53 years.

A native of Detroit, Diane Therese Masson was born June 26, 1944, to Cleveland and (Margaret) Lila Krimmel. The life of the Masson family was happily disrupted in November 1961 when Mrs. Lila Masson won the title of Mrs. Detroit and then Mrs. Michigan. She went on to be selected as Mrs. America and Mrs. U.S.A.

Subbing part time as a home-maker for the “celebrity mom” who traveled worldwide, Diane was accepted into the postulancy of the Felician Sisters on Jan. 27, 1963. She was given the name Sr. Mary Adele, changed later to Sr. Mary Diane. On Aug. 8, 1970, she pronounced final vows.

Sr. Masson earned degrees from Madonna (College) University, the University of Detroit, and a canon law licentiate from the Catholic University of America.

From 1966-76,  she taught grades 7-8 at St. Hilary, Detroit; St. Leonard, Warren; Our Lady of Refuge, Orchard Lake; St. Mel, Dearborn; St. Anthony, Toledo; Manistee Catholic Central, Manistee; St. Hyacinth, Bay City; and St. John Vianney, Wyoming. Interspersed between a three-year term as director of day care (1976-79) and administrator at St. Joseph Home, Jackson (1985-88), Sr. Masson was principal at St. Damian School, Westland.

After being approved by Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka to study canon law at the Catholic University, Sr. Masson served from 1990-2002 as defender of the bond in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Concurrent with canonist responsibilities, Sr. Masson was an adjunct professor of canon law at Sacred Heart Major Seminary and St. Mary Seminary, Orchard Lake, a member of Madonna University’s Board of Trustees, a member of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Ministry Certification Board, associate delegate for religious and canonical consultant for the Archdiocese of Detroit. She also served as defender of the bond in the Tribunal of Saginaw, and (off-site) judge for several United States Tribunals. On Jan. 21, 2003, Cardinal Adam J. Maida appointed Sr. Masson as delegate for consecrated life in the Archdiocese of Detroit, a position that she held until 2011.

In 2009, Sr. Masson began research for the needs of the underserved and found few programs offering housing for pregnant teens. After six years of vision, planning, courage and untiring efforts, Gianna House Pregnancy and Parenting Residence was brought to fruition on the property of St. Veronica Parish in Eastpointe. The former convent, housed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth for 80 years, opened its doors to teenage mothers-to-be with nowhere to turn. Gianna House is named after St. Gianna Beretta Molla, who sacrificed her own life to save her unborn daughter.

A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated for Sr. Masson on Jan. 30 at the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel of the Felician Sisters’ Central Convent in Livonia. Cremation and burial was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.