Diane M. Lafferty, 76 of Aitkin passed away April 28, 2026 at her home.  She was born October 7, 1949 in Aitkin the only child of Frank and Josephine (Lemire) Lafferty.  She was born, raised, lived her whole life and passed away on the same plot of land, which overlooked a pond, lovingly referred to as “Lafferty’s Lake”.  She enjoyed feeding the squirrels and birds and could often be seen closing out her days next to the pond, watching the beaver, geese and other wildlife settle into their evening routines.  One of her favorite pastimes was gardening and working in her yard.  She claimed it kept her young, and she was right.  Her flower garden blossomed beautifully every summer and she would stand tall, proudly surveying its progress.  She used an old fashioned push mower to mow her lawn, and every day, she’d take a walk, appreciating the fresh air.  Prior to her retirement Diane was the Aitkin County Recorder.  She worked 45 years in the Aitkin County Recorders office using her methodical organizational skills to serve her neighbors and fellow Aitkin County residents.  She trained the next generation in the county recorder’s office to faithfully serve the people of our county.  Diane was passionate about her faith and a devout Catholic.  She regularly attended Mass at Saint James Catholic Church in Aitkin her entire life.  She was also passionate about politics and would spend a lot of her days listening to the Drudge Report and Steve Bannon.  If you showed interest, she enjoyed sharing her religious and political viewpoints, but she never pushed.  Diane was comfortable with herself and didn’t mind living alone.  At the same time she enjoyed taking opportunities to talk with others, or gift them her handmade calendars, when opportunities arose.  She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Josephine (Lemire) Lafferty.  She is survived by many special relatives and friends who mourn her passing.

Memorial Mass will be 11:00am – Thursday, June 4, 2026 at Saint James Catholic Church in Aitkin.  Father Mike Patullo will be the officiant.  Visitation will begin at 10am with the Rosary at 10:40am at the church.  Burial will be in Saint Thomas Cemetery, Aitkin.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Aitkin. 

To leave a message of condolence go to  www.srtfuneral.com  

Memorials are preferred to Saint Thomas Cemetery Maintenance Fund.

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