Diana M. Lind

Diana M. Lind, 83, passed away after a brief but intense illness on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Concord Hospital. Her entire family was at her side.

She was born in Southampton, England, daughter of Frederick Cooper and Olive G. Sexton a few years before the beginning of World War II. She experienced the war bombings as a child and ultimately relocated to the country, specifically the Isle of Wight, for safety. After attending business school, she worked at several positions from her late teens to early twenties and ultimately met her husband, John, while he was on shore leave from the Navy. Immigrating to the United States, they were married in 1958 and settled on Long Island, NY.

The family moved to New Hampshire in 1977, to build a log cabin homestead and to begin adjusting to farm life. They raised cows, geese, and chickens for several years. She loved the serenity of the country and spent hours watching nature. She studied for and gained her US Citizenship in 1980.

A talented artist, Diana both painted with oils and created hand sewn stuffed animal toys. Animals and whimsy had always been a central theme in her craft and life. In 1986, she was the first person to be a juried Teddy Bear Artist in the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, an extreme honor. She fulfilled orders from all over the world, often saying her best friends were the bears she made. Her last order of mohair jointed teddy bears, stuffed toy mice, and pillowed cat beds were made at the beginning of December 2022 for the Christmas rush at the various statewide League stores. 

She brought joy to many by the small things she did, often with no recognition of the tasks performed. Her dedication to protecting animals through shelter adoptions and donations gave her peace and purpose in life. She had a particular fondness for cats, adopting several throughout her life, with Fluffy and Pompey being among many of her favorites.

Diana is survived by her husband John E. Lind of 64 years, her three daughters and one son with their spouses, and one grandson: Janice M. Lind, Jennifer A. Lind and Cindy L. Naiditch, Roberta “Robin” M. (Lind) Theodore and Sean R. Theodore, Peter J. Lind and LisaMarie Lind, and grandson Shane E. Theodore and his fiancé Therese Lemerise. She is also survived by several cousins and their families still living in England as well as her three current feline children (fur babies) - Zoey, Bella and Smokey.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Diana can be made to any of the following charity organizations: Operation Smile, Best Friends Animal Society, Defenders of Wildlife, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, or Heifer International.