Diane Martha (O’Neill) MacDonald
Diane Martha (O’Neill) MacDonald, of Nashua, NH passed peacefully on October 25, 2025. Diane was born and raised in Cambridge, MA and raised her own family in West Medford, MA. She was abundantly proud of the accomplishments of her son Cliff, a 3 sport athlete (football, hockey, lacrosse) at Medford High, a 4 year football and lacrosse player for Boston State College, a Sales Manager for Helping Hands of America and a doting Dad to his daughter Jessica. Diane had a successful 27 year career at Polaroid Corporation as an administrative assistant. While at Polaroid, Diane initiated one of the first physical fitness programs for employees, including an exercise center. After moving to New Hampshire with her husband Tom, Diane worked at the Ledge Street Elementary School as a paraprofessional in the 5th grade classroom. Diane attended Rivier College in Nashua, earning her Associates of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies. While attending Rivier, she worked as an assistant to the librarian at the Regina Library. Diane and Tom were daily communicants at the Immaculate Conception Church in Nashua, and both were active in church programs. In her later years, Diane volunteered at the Nashua Senior Activity Center Store and the Immaculate Conception Church Gift Shop. Diane moved to independent living and then assisted living at the Hunt Community where she received excellent care. Diane cherished her cat “Big Red” which was named after her son Cliff.
Diane was predeceased by her husband, Thomas J. MacDonald, her sister Patricia (O’Neill) McCulloch and her husband Basil McCulloch, her sons David Atkins and Cliff Atkins, and her niece Donna Reichle. Diane is survived by her nephew Steven McCulloch and his wife Diana of Franklin, MA, her granddaughter Jessica Atkins of Norwood, MA, her great granddaughter Lucille Atkins-Haire, and her great niece Stephanie McCulloch of Blackstone, MA.
SERVICES: A visiting hour will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 9:00am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to celebrate Diane’s Eternal Life at 10:00am at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 216 E. Dunstable Rd., Nashua. A lunch reception will be held in the spiritual hall of the Immaculate Conception Church following the funeral. Burial will be held at 1:45pm at the Hull Village Cemetery, Hull, MA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Diane’s memory to one of the following: Breathe New Hampshire, 145 Hollis St., Unit C, Manchester, NH 03101, 800-835-8647, https://breathenh.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/breathenh/donation.jsp?campaign=4& or Community Hospice House or Home Health & Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Dr., Merrimack, NH 03054, 603-882-2941, https://hhhc.org/make-a-gift/donation/ To view Diane’s Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.