FALMOUTH — Elva Emily Dionne, 97, died April 19 after a long illness.

On Aug. 13, 1912, she was born in Portland, the daughter of Charles and Alice Holmes.

After she married Paul A. Dionne, they started a painting business together, Dionne Painters.

In addition to helping run the business, she raised five daughters on the family’s 65-acre farm on Woodville Road in Falmouth. There she taught her daughters many things, including how to churn butter, grow a garden and to can and preserve food.

A hardworking woman, she continued to run Dionne Painters after the death of her husband Paul in 1963. With the help of her daughter Beverly Dennison, she remained active in the business she loved for many years.

An avid outdoorswoman, she enjoyed roaming the fields of the farm, picking berries with children and grandchildren.

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Her hobbies included singing, playing the piano and visiting with family.

She was predeceased by her husband Paul in 1963,  a daughter, Loretta Dionne,  a son, Ronald Dionne and recently by her daughter, Marilyn Dionne DiPietrantonio of Las Vegas, Nev.

Surviving are her four daughters, Joan Dionne Vance and her husband John of Portland, Beverly Dionne Dennison of North Yarmouth, Pauline Dionne Frallicciardi of Buxton, and Patricia Dionne Lowery and her husband James of Portland; eight grandchildren, Deborah DiPietrantonio Pennington and her husband Tom of North Carolina, Roscoe Dennison and his wife Jackie of North Yarmouth, Cherylynn Dennison Orcutt and her husband Doug of Durham, Steven Vance and his wife Sandra of Greenland, N.H., Michael Frallicciardi of Buxton, Kathleen Vance of Portland, April Dennison Woodcock and her husband Wendell of North Yarmouth, and Garilyn DiPietrantonio of Las Vegas, Nev., several great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren.

At her request, no formal funeral service was held.

Arrangements were by Dennett, Craig & Pate, 365 Main St., Saco.


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