Diane Fetzer Niddrie

Diane Marie Fetzer Niddrie passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the age of 68, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. She was born in Commack, New York, on March 9th, 1957. She is the wife of Philip Niddrie; the mother of Patrick and Philip Niddrie; the grandmother of Niko Martin Niddrie and Cecilia Iris Niddrie. She was born to the late Martin and Teresa Fetzer. She is also survived by her siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, and wonderful lifelong friends.

A native of Commack, and proud resident of New Orleans, Louisiana for over 44 years, Diane graduated from Commack High School, in 1975. After high school she attended Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville, Virginia and earned her Associate’s Degree in Respiratory Care. Diane began her professional career as a Respiratory Therapist at UVA in Charlottesville, VA, continued on Long Island, NY. She grew up in New York and fell in love with Philip Niddrie, who convinced her to move down to New Orleans in 1982. Together they raised two young whippersnappers while she continued her career in respiratory therapy at Southern Baptist Hospital. She worked through that hospital’s infamous Katrina episode, saving lives by manually pumping air with a bag valve mask for five days straight in 100 degree temperatures until every last patient was evacuated. She finally retired in 2024. Diane was a successful and well-respected Respiratory Therapist in the New Orleans area.

She loved going out to see music and I’m pretty sure she never missed a Jazz Fest. She loved our friends like they were her nieces and nephews. The happiest I ever saw her was when Sarah and I told her she was going to be a grandma. She loved those kids as much as anyone can love anything, and watching that firsthand reminded me what an amazing mother she was. Sarah described it as uncomplicated love; you never questioned it for a second. She was the safety net that gave us the confidence to take risks, pursue our dreams and occasionally make questionable decisions. I am extremely grateful for the impact that love had on my development as a person.

She was a young, healthy and strong 68 year-old when she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. The prognosis was grim from the start, but she gave it her best. She was surrounded by family and friends when she passed. We will miss her dearly.”

We will remember her as a joyful, welcoming presence whose vibrancy matched the city that she loved. She made friends easily and she was a mentor to countless colleagues. Diane was loving, compassionate, and most of all a very caring person to all. She enjoyed spending time skating and cycling, working out in Elmwood Ochsner gym and listening to live music, whether indoors or out. However, her true passion was spending time with her loving family and friends. Diane was unique and irreplaceable, well respected and liked, and will be deeply and dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Her spirit and tender nature will remain in the many memories of her cherished friends and family.

“To Mom

Your warmth held us like a cozy bed through the night

before we were born,

before we knew what cold was.

Your love kept us warm like a puffy jacket

on a brisk New Orleans winter morning.

Now it is afternoon; the sun has risen

and we are fine in our T-shirts.

We passed those jackets down to your grandkids.

As the sun shines from above, warming my face,

I can hear your voice

reminding me to put on my sunscreen;

and I take comfort knowing

that the sun will shine forever.”

-Patrick

Her husband Philip’s reply to the beautiful poem was as follows:

“Patrick….i haven’t cried for almost 24 hours straight but you brought an end to that…she was everything you said more… She was as wonderful a wife as I could have had. We were like cats and dogs sometimes but we kissed good night every night but two in the span of 41 years.

She was a Registered Respiratory Therapist for almost 44 years. Ironic that lung cancer would get her. She spent the majority of 41 years at Baptist and then Ochsner in the Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Units. When I met the nurses in those units at the Christmas parties the consensus was always the same..when Diane was there they were very happy…and when she wasn’t there, need I say it? How often do doctors at the bedsides ask a lowly therapist their opinion about a patient’s status? With her, frequently. The medical residents often sought her knowledge and learned from her.

It didn’t surprise me. Her entire career she would often, after the usual twelve hours of work with 18000 steps on her pedometer, come home and study respiratory books and texts. She was very conscientious and didn’t miss a single day of work in all those years. Diane may have been late once..two minutes? Up at 5:15a and returning at 7:30p…really?

She was my best friend, a great cook, wonderful mother and grandmother, super White Tornado of a housecleaner..and sweet lover, not necessarily in that order..

I have been, and still am, a lucky guy….”

Many thanks to the wonderful people both at Serenity Hospice and Mothe Funeral Home. Together they helped greatly with Diane’s passage from life to death.

In lieu of flowers please kindly consider contributions to Camp Pelican of New Orleans. Donations can be made at: www.camppelican.org

A private service will be held at a later date.

MOTHE Funeral Home has been entrusted with funeral arrangements. The family kindly invites you to share thoughts, fondest memories, and condolences online at www.MotheFunerals.com.