HANOVER, NH — Dianne Phyllis (Hawk) Dunn passed away peacefully Monday, November 30, at her residence in Hanover at the age of 88.
Dianne was born in Cleveland, OH, on September 11, 1932, daughter of Anne Katheryn (Hoiles) Hawk and Conrad Franklin Hawk Sr. As a young girl, Dianne and her family moved to Northfield OH, where she and her brother, Conrad Jr., and sister, Marilyn, grew up enjoying a country life. The family kept horses for the children. Horses and all things equestrian became a passion for Dianne which persisted throughout her life. Dianne graduated from Northfield-Macedonia High School in 1949, then attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in Psychology in 1954. While at University, Dianne met her future husband, John Lawrence Dunn. Dianne and John were married in Glendale, CA in June of 1954. The couple started their married life in Philadelphia where Dianne worked as a telephone operator while John attended medical school. Sometime during the years John was studying medicine, the couple took a vacation which brought them to the Upper Valley. They decided then and there that this was the place they wanted to settle and raise a family. Upon completing his medical studies, John accepted a residency at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and the couple moved to Hanover in 1959. In this period, Dianne and John began their family with Dianne giving birth to their 4 children between 1957 and 1962. They happily lived the rest of their lives in the Upper Valley, moving to Norwich in 1968 and then back to Hanover in 2012.
Dianne lived her life savoring each and every day. She was foremost the most giving and compassionate wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend one could ask for. Never idle, even while relaxing, she would be knitting a sweater or hat for someone who was in need. Dianne pursued her many interests with passion. She was a highly skilled potter, becoming deeply involved with the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. Her work now graces many homes in the area. Dianne loved the outdoors, enjoying many a long run or walk in the woods. She became a regular volunteer with many Upper Valley conservation organizations. It was to horses and the equestrian community, however, that Dianne devoted the bulk of her incredible energy and passion. She raised numerous horses at the family farm in Norwich, training them herself. She loved nothing more than teaching others the joy of riding or just taking a long trail ride with friends and her dog in tow. Through the years, she became involved with numerous local equestrian groups including the Root District Riding Club and the Green Mountain Horse Association. She also was a vital volunteer at High Horses Therapeutic Riding, a charitable organization in Sharon that provides a safe horsemanship experience to ill, special needs and underprivileged children.
Dianne was preceded in passing by her beloved husband John in 2018 after 67 years of devoted marriage. She was preceded also by her brother Conrad and sister Marilyn. Dianne leaves behind four children, John Lawrence (Lance) III (Lynet) of Norwich VT, Paul Alexander (Marguerite) of Taos NM, Amy Lynn Roy (Tom) of Corvallis OR and Andrew Thomas (Kate) of Redmond WA, as well as 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
A private celebration of Dianne’s life will be held at the farm in Norwich where she lived and loved when the safety of all can be reasonably assured.
Dianne’s family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program, Sharon VT. http://highhorses.org Phone: (802) 763-3280.
Messages of condolence may be expressed to the family through an online guestbook by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.