Rev. Diana M. Kirk

Rev. Diana M. (Clarke) Kirk, 87, of Manchester NH passed away peacefully on August 8, 2025 surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Melrose, MA, on January 20, 1938, to the late Thomas Jr. and Mabel (Towsley, later Uliano) Clarke. She graduated from Melrose High School class of 1955 and received a bachelors’ of science in Education in 1959 from Massachusetts College of Art. She taught elementary art in Concord MA for three years before marrying the late Richard Boardman Hester and moving to Weston, MA where she had her three children over seven years.

In the early 1980s, Diana went to work as a saleswoman at a small carpet store, and went on to become a successful store manager, a rarity for women in those days. At the top of her career, after a divorce, she left to attend the former Andover Newton Theological School where she received a Master of Divinity in 1991. During that time, she reconnected with the love of her life, the late poet Norman Andrew Kirk of Wayland, MA. They were married in 1990.

Diana was ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1991 and after several interim positions she became the pastor of Medfield Baptist Church for 11 years, before retiring in 2005 to help take care of her anticipated granddaughter.

In 2019, Rev. Diana moved into what is now Riverwoods Manchester, where she lived independently until December 2024, when she moved to assisted living and then memory care. Diana was called to help people, which she did all the way until April 2025 when her good friend and fellow Riverwoods resident Ray passed away. Diana’s health deteriorated rapidly after that, as she was no longer able to practice her purpose.

Jesus and family were everything to Diana. Many years ago, Diana had an encounter with Jesus where He told her never to be afraid and that He would never leave her alone. And He never did.

In her spare time, Diana loved singing, reading and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, David Hester and his wife Leslie of Lawrenceville, GA; Richard M. Hester of Providence, RI; Jennifer Climo and her wife Carole of Bedford, NH; her grandchildren, Matthew of Madison, WI; Molly Smith and her husband Spencer of Lawrenceville, GA; Sydney and Lucas Davidson of Bedford NH; her great grandchildren, all of Lawrenceville, GA: Owen, Eva, Lucia and Eloise; and her sister Linda Clarke and her wife Joan Casamo of Clearwater, FL.

Diana was cared for by a wonderful team of nurses and aides at Riverwoods, Manchester, all of whom are too numerous to name here. Diana’s family is incredibly grateful to the team for the care and genuine caring they provided, both to Diana and to her family.

Diana was predeceased by her loving husband Norman Andrew Kirk in 1998.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be on Sunday August 17, from 5pm to 7pm at Lambert Funeral Home, 1799 Elm Street, corner of North Street, Manchester NH. A Funeral service will take place at 10am on Monday August 18, at Bedford Presbyterian Church, 4 Church Road, Bedford NH.

In Lieu of Flowers: Donations can be made in Diana’s name to Bedford Presbyterian Church, 4 Church Rd., Bedford, NH 03110. Sing hymns and spend time with your family in memory of Reverend Diana Kirk.

The Funeral service will be live streamed on the Bedford Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel. Please follow this link:

https://www.youtube.com/@bedfordpresbyterianchurch