Owner of Mood Indigo New York
It is with a heavy heart that I must inform our many friends, colleagues and customers of Mood Indigo New York about the untimely passing of Diane C.F. Petipas. She was 63.
A 1974 graduate of Wheaton College, Diane got her start as an antiques dealer while attending the original Norton Flea Market. Shortly thereafter, having accumulated a nice stash of found and purchased items, she set up at the Flea, and the second dealer to walk by purchased her entire inventory on the spot. She was hooked!
After setting up and running two progressively larger shops in Massachusetts, we were afforded the opportunity to break into the New York City arena (Mood Indigo, 181 Prince Street, SoHo, N.Y.), where Diane gained the sobriquet of “the Fiesta Queen” for her knowledge and pristine inventory. She was also one of the premier dealers in all collectible American dinnerware, and her advice was garnered for price guides, catalogs and insurance appraisals.
Her insight in “trending” before it was a word in every dealer’s vocabulary produced ground floor results in the Bakelite jewelry and objects market, the collectible cocktail shaker and barware arena, and specializing in 1939 New York World’s Fair and New York City vintage souvenirs.
What our customers or suppliers may have been unaware of was Diane’s strength and ability to overcome disabilities that had plagued her since childhood, rarely complaining.
Having known and loved Diane for over 45 years, and married for 40 years, I can only pray that she will be at restful, painless peace in the arms of her mother, father and the Lord, and that the flea markets are open every day in Heaven!
Funeral arrangements will be private. A memorial service will be on October 22, at noon at St Ann’s Episcopal Church, 257 Middle Road, Sayville, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St Ann’s Food Pantry.
—Robert (Bob) Petipas
