Constance Huber Van Kirk

It is with profound sadness and deep gratitude for a life well lived that we announce that Constance H. (“Connie Sue”) Van Kirk, beloved wife, mother, nana, sister, daughter and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 2, 2025, after a brief illness.

Connie was born on March 3, 1952, in Long Branch, New Jersey to Herman and Beatrice Huber (née Scheierman) and raised in Little Silver, New Jersey. It was in Little Silver that she first met (at age 5) and grew to know John Van Kirk, the great love of her life who, after they reconnected at 19, would become her steadfast companion and would never leave her side over the next 54 years.

Connie earned a bachelor’s degree from Wagner College in Staten Island and master’s degree from Keene State College in New Hampshire, each in special education, which she used effectively throughout her career as a classroom teacher, early intervention specialist and administrator and children’s bookstore owner.

Connie and John made their first home together in Munsonville (Nelson) New Hampshire where they owned the Granite Lake Country Store for seven years, cultivating for their three children a magical beginning to their childhoods full of summer lake afternoons, snow forts, pasture ramblings, old barns, penny candy and adventures seemingly pulled directly from the children’s books and adventure stories that filled the shelves of their home.

They made their second home in Colts Neck, New Jersey closer to her childhood friends and her family and, as was her habit, she continued to make and cultivate new and meaningful relationships that she would nurture for the rest of her life.

Connie and John purchased their current home in Keene in 1999 always with the eye to return full time to their beloved New Hampshire, which they accomplished in 2019.

Connie is survived by John, her husband of 51 years, her children Josh (Christine Waer), Becca (Stuart Murray), Samantha Sintros (Nick), her sister Leslie Purslow (Mark), her seven grandchildren Gavin (Emma Lopez), Theo, Carver, Grady, Samuel, Bennett and John and the many friends she made along the way. She was predeceased by her parents Herman and Beatrice.

Our Connie was a lover of all things purple and never met a seashell, cookie jar, decorative pitcher, piece of Stangl pottery, pez dispenser, children’s book or piece of 19th century furniture that she could easily say no to or a child she did not have a moment for. She was a collector and keeper of friends, a deep feeler, a wonderful baker, and she respected and honored all.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Feeding Tiny Tummies at https://checkout.square.site/merchant/325EHVVG8GEQA/checkout/PZLA2N2DI3MGXPTB5RF3OBRY.

A celebration of life will be held at the Nelson Congregational Church at 2:00 PM on Saturday July 12 - we invite anyone who knew and loved her to attend.