Diane Burns Longley

SOUTH LONDONDERRY - Diane Burns Longley, 62, of South Londonderry, died Nov. 9, 2015, surrounded by her family. She was co-owner of The Startingate Ski Shop with her husband, Gary Longley, which they started in 1980. Dede and Gary met when they were both working for the Rossingol Co., touring the U.S. with the Rossignol Exhibition Ski Team. Ms. Longley was born Oct. 30, 1953, in North Andover, Mass., the daughter of Thomas and Sylvia Burns. She went to Pike School in Andover, Mass., and graduated from Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, R.I. She studied acting at Hampshire College and attended the Eugene O'Neill National Theater Institute before graduating from Hampshire. After college, she worked as an actress in New York City. During that time, Rossignol Co. hired her to tour with the team, where her future husband, a champion free-style skier, was part of the exhibition team. She is survived by her husband, Gary Longley; her son, Chance Longley of Winhall; her daughter, Bond Longley of South Londonderry; sisters Poppy Burns of New York City, and Wendy Conquest of Hanover, N.H.; her brother, Lansing Burns of Fairfield, Conn.; her father, Thomas Burns of Boston, Mass.; a niece and a nephew. A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 5, 2015, at Congregational Church in Peru with the reception immediately following at Red Fox Inn in Bondville. Arrangements are under the direction of Adams Funeral Homes & Cremation Service Chester -