Diana Lynn O'Grady

Hampstead - Diana Lynn O’Grady, affectionately known as “Nanny Di” to her ten wonderful grandchildren, passed away so peacefully on May 9, 2025, at 11:11 a.m., with her daughters by her side. She was 72 years old.

Diana was the proud mother of five children: Aaron Bush (wife, Jennifer), Jason Bush, Allison “Alli” Deacon (husband, Mark), Valerie Melton (husband, Jason), and Holly VanBencoten (husband, Joe). She was known for her sharp wit, strong will, and one-of-a-kind sense of humor. Her bold personality and charming stubbornness left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.

We will always remember her signature red hair, her big, beautiful smile, her contagious laugh, and her impeccable comedic timing. She had a way of bringing joy and laughter to any room—especially when she was behind the bar, singing and serving her friends as the unforgettable “singing bartender.”

In her final days, she found comfort in the calls and company of those who reached out, and her family is beyond grateful to have been with her during that time.

She is survived by her siblings Carolyn Harris, Eileen Baker, and Donna Magner. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Vivian Swetnam, as well as her brother, Don Swetnam.

Diana was blessed in this life to have known love, and now finds peace in being reunited with her late love, Jimmy Pugh.

She will be forever remembered in so many beautiful ways by those whose lives she touched.

A celebration of life for Diana will be held in her hometown of Boynton Beach, FL, at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Legion Post 164 in Boynton Beach, Florida below:

Diana O'Grady Memorial Fund

Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation

2209 Delaney Ave. Wilmington NC 28403