SACO — Irene L. Dion, 93, of The Inn at Atlantic Heights, formerly of Biddeford, died Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford.
She was born April 24, 1925 in Biddeford, a daughter of Alfred and Rose (Ross) Lamirande, and was educated locally.
On Nov. 6, 1946, she married Robert F. Dion at St. Joseph Church.
She had worked as a sales clerk in specialty shops, including The Children’s Shop and JoAnn’s Dress Shop, as well as at various Maine Mall stores before retiring in 1985.
Irene enjoyed crafts, knitting, crocheting, oil painting, ceramics, traveling, and playing cards with special friends. She was an avid reader who inspired her children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren to all become readers by providing them with lots of special time on her lap with a good book. As a woman of great faith, she became a Eucharistic Minister at the assisted living facility where she led a weekly communion service followed by pushing her walker to deliver communion to Seal Rock Rehab and Nursing Home Catholics. She also was instrumental in getting a monthly Mass said for the residents at The Inn and setting it up for services with her friends.
She was predeceased by Robert, her husband of 58 years, on June 21, 2003. Also preceding her in death were two sisters, Georgette Gomes and Theresa Bergeron.
Irene is survived by two sons, Roger E. Dion of Bath and Michael G. Dion and his wife Donna of Biddeford; a daughter, Roberta A. Ruel and her husband Roger of Lyman; three grandchildren, Gary Dion-Bernier, his wife Michelle and their children, Makayla and Dylan, Jennifer Lang, her husband Robert and their daughters Kassidy and Kellsie, and Alison Herald, her husband Jonathan and their children Abigail, Joshua and Benjamin.
Visiting Hours will 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford, ME 04005. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 12 at St. Joseph Church in Biddeford. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
If so desired, donations in Irene’s memory may be made to: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN, 38101-9908.
To share condolences online, please visit www.HopeMemorial.com.
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