Diana Phillips Dies at 86

Diana Phillips, 86, passed away on April 24, 2025 with her loving children and grandchildren around her, serving her. Originally born in St Kitts, British West Indies, Diana moved to Dorchester, MA with her eight children and late husband Charles Phillips in 1974.

Diana V. Phillips

She graduated from University​ of Massachusetts, Boston with a Bachelors in Elementary Education in 1989. Diana is survived by her children, Veronica, Alexander, Jeremiah (predeceased), John, Bernadette, Belinda, Virginia, Charles, Jr. and Lydia; her grandchildren, Nicolas, Ariel, Brandon, Myranda, Daniela, Michael, Kenneth, Eckstrom and her great-grandchildren, Keanu and Cali.

Everywhere Diana went, she had a love for people and shared the Word of God with them. She faithfully read her Bible daily and prayed even more so. Her heart was always open to serve. Diana taught all of her children and grandchildren about God, being Christians and giving their lives to Christ. She loved music and praised God with hymns and songs. And, when she taught her children how to read, she used the Bible to do so; she also taught them how to sing and praise God with their talents. Diana had a tenacious love for her grandchildren. She was always willing to babysit them and sometimes she would take them on an adventure around the Dorchester neighborhood.  Even her grandchildren all have beautiful memories of her, from taking them to the Nutcracker to simply riding the trolley together in Mattapan.

Diana was a proud and devoted member of Faith Christian Church. She always invited others along to Sunday service or Bible study, even if it was a zoom link to join remotely! Diana cared for her neighbors by ensuring she kept a stocked freezer in case she heard of someone in need! The true definition of a missionary in her community. Her generosity also reached many charitable organizations that she moved her heart.

Diana also had a love for gardening. Every place she lived there was surely a garden to be grown and well-kept by her hands. She treated her family as the most important garden she tended. Her love, like water, nurtured boundless growth and will always keep us rooted and close together. We will always remember her unwavering loyalty to the Lord, her family and how she tended to God’s garden.

Isaiah 61:11 (NIV)

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the graveside services on Monday, May 19 at 10 a.m. at Eastern Cemetery 

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory. For online condolences or to share a special memory, please visit https://www.turnbullsfuneralhomevi.com/