April 18, 1933 – February 19, 2024
Reverend Diane Elizabeth Plamondon, Ph.D., age 90, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2024. Born April 18, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, Diane was the daughter of the late George L. and Florence (Hoffman) Plamondon and sister of George L. Plamondon, III (deceased).
From a young age Diane was drawn to science, medicine, and spirituality. Her early education at Convent of the Sacred Heart in Chicago was a cherished memory and a foundation for her life’s work.
Diane was awarded a Bachelor of Science – Nursing degree from the University of Florida, Magna Cum Laude, achieving the highest grades ever scored on the Florida State Board of Nursing examination. Subsequently Diane obtained both a Master of Science in Sociology from Colorado State University and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Texas School of Public Health. Her dissertation topic was “Childbearing Behavior and Modern Medicine in a Traditional Culture in Yucatan.” The study was highly significant in certain areas and was found to be of much value to the Mexican government for health planning purposes. In addition to conducting her dissertation field study in Yucatan, Mexico, Diane joined a field research team conducting a study of hypertension in Palau, Micronesia while a Ph.D. candidate.
After receiving her nursing degree and moving to Bogota, Colombia, Diane and her husband Sam Schulman, a professor of Sociology at the National University of Colombia, were introduced to a Dominican priest who was working with the urban poor in Barrio Juan XXIII. Upon learning that Diane was a registered nurse, Fr. Domingo asked that she take charge of the small clinic that he and the community had constructed. Through the clinic, meaningful improvements to health and access to resources became available for the barrio’s residents. When Sam and Diane departed Bogota, the fledgling Peace Corp moved in to continue and augment the work they had started.
In 1976 Diane became a member of a sobriety community and spiritual program, and in her words,
“My interests began to change”. Diane obtained a certification as a chemical abuse counselor and began work in the treatment field, completing a study of physician’s attitudes towards alcoholism for the Bay Area Council on Alcoholism.
Diane felt her most significant role and title was that of Reverend. In 1990 Diane completed ministerial school at Unity Village in Kansas City, Missouri and proceeded to pioneered Unity’s first Central American church in San Jose, Costa Rica. Returning to the U.S. in the mid-90’s she founded Unity Church of the Bay Area which remains a thriving ministry to this day (currently known as Unity Bay Area Houston).
Diane renewed her Catholic faith in her later years, regularly attending mass and teaching certification classes with a focus on scholarly examination of the Bible.
Diane is survived by her sons George (Lisa) Cushing, Christopher Cushing and Henry (Anna) Schulman.
A celebration of Diane’s life will be held on Saturday April 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Highway 3 South, League City, Texas 77573 (281-554-2450). The service will be live-streamed on the Unity Bay Area Houston Facebook page and their You Tube channel. A reception will be held immediately following the service, at the church. Donations can be made in Diane’s honor to Hope Village https://hope-village.com/ or the charity of your choice.
3 thoughts on “Reverend Diane Elizabeth Plamondon, Ph.D”
Wow! I never knew all the things that Diane did in her life before I worked with her as the music director at Unity Bay Area. That is so cool to learn about. My time with her and Unity was transformative in my own spiritual journey . The Divine Feminine shone through her in all she did and said and was. And still is.
So very sorry to hear this news, old friend! I have many fond memories of your Mom and I will always remember our trip across the Yucatán when she was working on her Doctorate studying child mortality rates. What an amazing woman! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
God of mercy fill Diane’s family with your divine love. May they be consoled that Diane is at peace with God. In remembrance of Diane a mass will be offered for her at St. Sylvester Catholic Church in Zaleski, Ohio on April 17, 2024.