Diana Perley

Diana (Ma) was born October 27, 1939 and raised in Easton, Maine, USA; daughter of Kenneth Patrick Kirkpatrick and Addie Pauline Smith. She is survived by her brother Frederick ”Buster” (Shirley) Kirkpatrick of Florida, USA and Aunt/Sister, Shirley Kirkpatrick (Russell) Miller of Houlton, Maine, USA. After a long illness, Ma passed away on Friday, July 15, 2022, with her loving family by her side.

She leaves behind her 4 biological children: Lorraine Rae Flanagan (Roger) Wilcox of Westfield, Maine, USA, Charles Patrick (Carlene) Flanagan of Westfield, Maine, USA, Marci Rae Sadoques (Dan) Rumney of New Hampshire, USA, and Dean Douglas (Lynn Durost) Pepin of Sanford, Maine, USA; 4 step-children: Kathy Pepin (Steve) Henery, David (Denise) Pepin, Rudolph “Rudy” (Theresa) Pepin of Sanford, Maine, USA and Michelle (Brad) Libby of Stockton Springs, Maine, USA; and 5 step-children from Tobique First Nation, NB, Canada: Tina Martin, Kimberley (Edward) Perley, Sterling (Melissa) Perley, Karen Perley Miller and Tiffany (Miaoasagiget) Perley.

She is also survived by 6 biological grandchildren: Stacy Wilcox (Ben) Hickey of Easton, Maine, USA, Megan Wilcox (BJ Defour) of Mars Hill, Maine, USA, Abby and Emily Sadoques of New Hampshire, USA, Taylor (Jeb) Pepin of Boston, Massachusetts, USA and Ryan Pepin of Sanford, Maine, USA; 24 step-grandchildren: Dain, Keisha, Tenikah, Justin, Crissy, Nicole, Dean, Beau, Simone, Olivia, Chloe, Cassidy, Gage, Lily, Tommy, Kristen, Kimberly, Autumn, Isaac, Matt, Luke, Andrea, Jenner and Seth; and 3 great-grandchildren: Cooper and Kenzie Hickey and Caelin Sadoques.

The last half of Ma’s life came into fruition when she married Kenny Perley and later became employed with the National Native Alcohol and Drug Program (NNADAP) Treatment and Prevention.

Ma’s life was celebrated at a Sacred Fire Ceremony and Celebration of Life Ceremony at the Paul Pyres Community Hall at Tobique First Nation, on Monday, July 18th, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Tobique Youth Center, Tobique First Nation, NB, Canada, in gratitude for the work of the 4 original NNADAP Prevention employees (Hugs not Drugs): Linda Perley, Caroline Sappier, Paul Bear and Derek Perley; Or to Kathy Adams, Upper Valley Regional Autism Center (UVRAC), Perth-Andover, NB, Canada.

Family and friends express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Peter Moore, Dr. Andrew Kennedy, the nurses at the Perth Hospital in the Palliative Care Unit, the Perth-Andover Extra-Mural program and their nurses, the Tobique First Nation Home and Community Care Program, the Kindred Home Care Program staff and all those who helped in the care given to Ma over the recent months.

We honour the life and achievements of this fine woman!

Arrangements were entrusted to Brunswick Funeral Home, Perth-Andover, NB.