BOWDOINHAM — Diana Coe Berry Rudloe, 68, died Friday, Sept. 29, 2006, in her childhood home in Bowdoinham surrounded by her family.

She was born in Boston on March 18, 1938, the daughter of Ledlie and Priscilla Berry of Merrymeeting Farm in Bowdoinham. Her godparents were Robert Peter Tristam Coffin and Virginia Gilles.

In 1993, she was diagnosed with a serious autoimmune liver disease. She kept this disease at bay with a positive attitude and by combining traditional western medicine with Chinese healing arts.

She touched the lives of hundreds of immigrant and refugee students in the Portland Public Schools' Multilingual and Multicultural Center for a quarter of a century. Beginning in 1981, she set up the structure of the English as a Second Language program at both the elementary and middle school levels and helped to develop ESL curriculum and materials. Most recently, she was the lead coordinator of ESL testing and assessment in the district. She was known for her encyclopedic knowledge of her specialty and was a role model and mentor for new ESL teachers across the country.

She received her training through the University of Michigan; The English Language Institute in Florence, Italy; and the Boston University NDEA Institute for Teachers of ESL. She was a graduate of the Emma Willard boarding school. She received a bachelor's degree, cum laude, from Brown University as an English literature major. She held a master's degree in elementary education with a concentration in reading from Antioch University.

She lived and worked in Italy for two years, where she received a language scholarship from the Italian government and began her teaching career.

She will be remembered for her grace, charm and style.

She is survived by a daughter, Stephanie Rudloe of New York City; a son, Isaac Rudloe and his wife, Tiffany, of New Orleans, La.,; and two brothers and their families, Bruce Berry and David Berry of Bowdoinham

A memorial service was held Sunday.

Memorial donations may be made to the Multilingual Program, Portland Public Schools, 150 Ocean Ave., Portland, ME 04103; or Chans Home Health Care, 50 Baribeau Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011.

Arrangements are by Kincer Funeral Home, 130 Pleasant St., Richmond.