Joan was born in Presque Isle, Maine on March 31, 1930 to Edmund and Anna (Bouchard) Beaulieu. Following graduation from Presque Isle High School in 1948, Joan worked at Northern National Bank and New England T&T Company in Presque Isle.
She married Xavier J. (Joe) Dietrich on Dec. 26, 1953. They raised their family in several locations along the east coast, ranging from Presque Isle to Key West, Florida, during Joe’s naval career. Joan was a devoted wife and mother who demonstrated strength and courage in her own quiet way. She managed the household and cared for her children, often on her own, when Joe was on deployment. Joan was also a cancer survivor of almost forty years.
She and Joe were selfreliant and hard working, taking care of their own home and assisting their children in countless ways over the years. Joan was always there for her extended family as well, occasionally providing care for her sisters’ children and working on various home improvement projects on her parents’ farm. After his retirement, she and Joe happily cared for their grandchildren as pre-schoolers and took pride in watching them grow. When Lexi and Connor entered school, Joe and Joan proudly attended their school and sporting events.
During the last several years Joan suffered a steady decline as Alzheimer’s disease progressed, and was lovingly cared for by her husband in their Brunswick home.
Her husband, Joe, her siblings Bernard Beaulieu, Reginald Beaulieu, Viola Beaulieu, Linda Mosberg, Brenda Beaulieu, Rena Beaulieu, and an infant sister, predeceased Joan.
Joan is survived by her children Dianna Dietrich of Brunswick, Carolyn McHale and son-in-law Jack of Maryland, Michael Dietrich and daughter-in-law Lise of Freeport, and Xavier Dietrich II of Massachusetts, her grandchildren Connor and Alexis Dietrich of Freeport, and her siblings Loretta Beaulieu, Edna Pirie, Mildred Beaulieu, Carol Giles, Franklin Beaulieu, and many nieces and nephews.
Joan’s family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Hawthorne House for the kindness, compassion, and support they extended to Joan and her family.
Visiting hours will be held at Brackett Funeral Home, 29 Federal Street, Brunswick from 4-6 pm on Tuesday, April 2. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 132 McKeen Street, Brunswick. Interment will follow at 1 pm on Wednesday at the Maine Veteran’s Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, Maine, 04074.
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