Kirk, Melissa L.

Melissa L. (Merchant) Kirk, age 53, a lifelong resident of Canton, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2025, after a courageous journey with breast cancer.

Melissa is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Peter Kirk, and their two wonderful daughters, Abigail and Rebecca Kirk. Melissa leaves behind her parents, John and Mary (Sullivan) Merchant, and her brother Brendan Merchant and his wife, Lindsey. She was predeceased by her beloved brother Michael Merchant.

As a daughter-in-law, she was cherished by Pam Kirk of Portsmouth, RI, and remembered fondly by the late George Kirk. She is missed by her in-laws, George “Skip” and Melissa “Missy” Kirk, John and Jill Kirk, Tom and Kathy Kirk, and Jane and Michael O’Connor; 11 nieces and nephews; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Melissa grew up in Canton surrounded by grandparents and cousins on both sides of her family. She loved her summers in New Silver Beach on Cape Cod where she made many friends, including Peter Kirk. She was a 1990 graduate of Ursuline Academy in Dedham and earned a business degree from Loyola University of Maryland in 1994.

Melissa initially worked in financial services in San Francisco and Boston. She and Peter married in 1998 and spent time in St. Kitts and Georgia. She prevailed in dragging Peter to Canton to raise a family and joined her father in his accounting firm, Cullen Murphy & Company in Norwood, where she has maintained a presence for 20 years.

Melissa’s proudest moments were with her daughters. She was active in the Canton Moms Club, taught CCD in Canton, served as president of CAPT at the Dean S. Luce Elementary School, and served on the board of the National Charity League’s Blue Hills Chapter. She loved watching Abigail and Rebecca on stages, athletic fields and courts all over New England.

Melissa loved family traditions. She competed fiercely in Merchant family bake-offs. She carried her maternal grandmother’s recipe of Ping, a unique spinach dish, to the Thanksgiving table annually without fail. She loved watching Peter sail the Cygnet with Abigail and Rebecca as Peter had with his father. She beamed when they chose to attend Ursuline Academy.

Melissa had a strong connection to her Catholic faith, which only grew in her adult life. Her faith gave her comfort through all stages of her life.

Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home, 455 Washington Street, Tuesday, February 18, from 4-7 p.m. Funeral Mass on Wednesday, February 19, at 10 a.m. in St. Oscar Romero Church in Canton. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Canton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Sean E. Marshall Foundation for Neuroblastoma Research at tinyurl.com/sean-marshall-foundation.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Feb 15 2025. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.