Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Some people come into your life and change everything. For me, that person was Diane Lassonde. She wasn’t just my reselling buddy—my mentor, my cheerleader, and the best troublemaker you could ever hope to meet because of an eBay meetup.
I’ll never forget the day we met. I was running a very (and I mean very) unsuccessful consignment store, desperately searching online for a way out. That’s when I stumbled across Diane’s eBay meetup, and I messaged her to ask a few benign questions. A couple of days later, she walked into my store with her big heart, boundless energy, and a glint in her eye that said, “I know something you don’t… yet.”
Diane convinced me to come to her meetup, and let’s say I wasn’t thrilled about it. I was ready to close up shop, sell off my stock, and get a “real job.” But I went to a small restaurant where I was sure I’d hear the same tired advice about reselling. Boy, was I wrong.
Diane had this way of commanding a room—not with loudness, but sheer passion. She didn’t just talk about reselling; she lived it. “eBay is a buffet,” she said, and within minutes, she’d inspired me to give eBay a real shot. Diane asked me to attend the 2018 eBay Open in Las Vegas; that’s when everything changed. We made reseller friends, and I decided I could do this! We attended eBay Open again in 2019, and again, everything changed; Diane introduced me to this “game-changing tool” called List Perfectly. Diane had a knack for spotting gold before anyone else, and (spoiler alert) she was right.
From that day forward, Diane and I were inseparable. We swapped sourcing tips, debated pricing strategies, and celebrated every sale—especially the weird ones. She even let me peek at her eBay stats on her seller hub, cheering me on as I tried to outsell her. I eventually did, but she never cared; she was more excited than me.
But more than that, Diane became my friend. My real friend—not just a reselling friend or an online acquaintance, but someone I could call at any hour of the day or night. We traveled together, shopped thrift stores, swam, drank beer, wore matching pajamas, made Mickey Mouse ears, played penny drop, and laughed until our sides hurt. She shared her family with me, and I’ll forever be grateful for her children and grandchildren, who were so much a part of her life.
Fearless Living: Diane’s legacy
Diane wasn’t just about reselling; she was about living fearlessly. She taught me that mistakes were stepping stones, that laughter could heal almost anything, and that success was sweetest when shared.
Her fearless spirit inspired the creation of the FearLESS Living Fund, a legacy she built with her family even after being diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Diane was deeply moved by the members and mission of The Blind Center of Nevada, a community she discovered through her work with the BOSS Reseller Remix.
Even as she faced her own challenges, Diane was determined to “get a leg up in life” for others. Through the FearLESS Living Fund, she found a way to continue helping people long after her time here. Her gift reminds us to pay it forward—through kindness, generosity, teaching, and sharing.
List Perfectly and Diane
Diane had a way of spotting potential in people and tools before anyone else. When List Perfectly launched, she immediately invited its founders, Amanda and Clara, to attend her eBay meetup. True to form, Diane didn’t just make business connections; she built friendships. She bonded with Amanda and Clara, cheering on their success as passionately as she cheered on her reseller friends.
Diane believed in List Perfectly from the start. She loved how it simplified reselling and brought the community together. With Amanda and Clara, whether at eBay Open, on Zoom calls, or hanging out in person, Diane and I often found ourselves talking List Perfectly, sharing ideas, and dreaming big for the reselling world.
When I was offered a job at List Perfectly, no one was more excited than Diane. She was my biggest supporter, though she joked she wished we could take on this new adventure together. Even as her illness progressed, she celebrated my successes as if they were her own.
Diane’s “Bucket List with a Twist” brought us one of my favorite memories together. Amanda and Clara made sure Diane checked off a dream: attending a Red Sox game in style. Watching her light up that day in the suite—cheering on her beloved Sox—was priceless. It was pure Diane: joy, passion, and gratitude all wrapped up in one unforgettable moment.
List Perfectly wasn’t just a tool to Diane—it was a testament to what happens when people believe in each other and work together. I’ll always be grateful to Amanda, Clara, Theresa, and List Perfectly for the happiness they brought to my best friend during those moments.
Saying goodbye, but not really
Diane’s passing has left a hole in my heart—and probably in eBay meetup attendance, too. But even as I grieve, I can’t help but smile at the memories. The late-night parties, reselling adventures, Cheers with Beers, swimming at the Lassonde pool pub, laughing till I peed, and her endless encouragement: “You’ve got this!”
She taught me that reselling isn’t just about flipping items for profit. It’s about connection, resilience, and daring to dream big. I cannot explain how much I will miss her in this simple online blog.
So, in honor of Diane, I’ll keep pushing forward. I’ll champion the FearLESS Living Fund, share her wisdom with others, and maybe even convince a few more people to try List Perfectly (because, let’s face it, she’d want me to).
Thank you, Diane
Thank you for the laughs, the lessons, and the friendship of a lifetime. You weren’t just my mentor—you were my family.
Rest easy, Diane. I hope Heaven has unlimited storage space (we both know your cellar almost did), no shipping fees, and a thrift store that never closes. 💛
If you’d like to donate, go to FearLESS Living Fund.
