Diane Marie (Murphy) Hickey of Ipswich, died peacefully in her home
surrounded by family on Thursday, August 13, 2009, after a brief but
courageous battle with cancer. She was 63 years old.
Born on October 28, 1945 in Cambridge, to Margaret Claire (Finnerty)
Murphy of Warren, and John James Murphy of Medford, Diane grew up in
Medford with her parents and older brother John. After attending
high school at Girls Catholic in Malden, Diane received her teaching
certification from Boston State in 1967. She went on to teach
kindergarten for 26 years, first in Medford, and then Alexandria,
VA, but spent most of her career at Paul F. Doyon Memorial School in
Ipswich. A kind and loving teacher, Diane put great emphasis on
guiding children through their first school experience. She loved
the time she spent in the classroom with her students.
The bond between Diane and her future husband, John Joseph Hickey, a
childhood friend of her older brother, began with a first date at
Brigham’s Ice Cream Shop in Medford, a day always vivid in her
memory. Diane married John on August 10, 1968 at Immaculate
Conception Church in Malden, and so began a lifelong partnership
that lasted 41 happy years. They loved their time in Ipswich,
particularly long morning walks at Crane Beach and time spent with
family.
Diane was an active member of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Ipswich,
where she served as a lector. She enjoyed her time with the Town
and Country Garden Club of Ipswich as well as the “Sip and Sew”
group, a collection of friends that has been meeting weekly for many
years.
In addition to her husband John, Diane is survived by her four
children, Brian, of Washington, D.C., and Robert, Steven, and
Kathryn, all of Ipswich. She is also survived by her
daughter-in-law Seana Chandler Hickey and four grandchildren:
Brenna, Norah, Ryan, and Conor, of Ipswich. She is also survived by
her older brother John Murphy and his wife Brenda (Nelligan) Murphy,
of Chicago, IL.
Family and friends are invited to gather at the Whittier-Porter
Funeral Home, 6 High St., Ipswich, on Monday, August 17, 2009 from
4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. for visitation. Her funeral Mass will be
held at Our Lady of Hope Parish, Pineswamp Road, Ipswich on Tuesday,
August 18, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. Burial will follow at the Highland
Cemetery in Ipswich. Donations may be made to the Ipswich Public
Schools, for the benefit of the Ipswich Elementary Schools, 1 Lord
Square, Ipswich, MA 01938.
Thank you to all in the community that made Diane feel so loved.
She was a kind, loving, and selfless woman who will be missed dearly
by many.
