AUGUSTA – Marie B. (Verville) Dion, 83, died Tuesday morning, Aug. 1, 2006, at the Maine Veterans’ Home, Augusta, due to complications from a stroke. She was born April 16, 1923, in Fall River, Mass., the daughter of the late Alfred and Eugenie Verville. Marie graduated from Durfee High School in 1940, and was an active member in many school programs such as tennis, volleyball and basketball. She then entered the U.S. Navy, working stateside, where she attained the rank of pharmacy mate 3rd class, from June 1943 to December 1945. She then attended St. Anne’s School of Nursing in Fall River, Mass., where she continued to work as the labor/delivery supervisor until her marriage in 1949 to the late Bernard H. Dion. She then became a private duty nurse into the late 1950s. Marie had an avid love of gardening, knitting, baking and especially canning all that she grew each year. She loved playing cards and bingo, and was often found in the common room at the Rhode Island Veterans’ Home as the bingo caller or stomping the competition in a hand of cribbage. She was an active member of the Rhode Island Veterans Council during her years as a resident of the Rhode Island Veterans’ Home in Bristol, R.I., where she was a staunch advocate of veterans’ and women’s rights. She had a deep and abiding faith, and often could be found in the Home’s chapel each Sunday participating in the services and working alongside the chaplain during the weekdays. Marie was a special woman with a great love for her friends and family. She will be greatly missed. Marie is survived by her five daughters, Louise M. Banville, Pauline I. Dion and Michele L. Dion, all of Bangor, Jeanne T. Lucas of Bath and Denise T. Dion of Brooksville; three grandchildren, Paul B. Banville of Bangor, Jennifer P. Lucas and Lisa T. Lucas of Bath; one great-grandson, Eric B. Lucas, also of Bath; her youngest sister, Helen (Verville) Holloway of Florida; and her many nieces and nephews. There will be a private graveside service for the family later this week. We ask that in lieu of flowers, a donation in the name of Marie B. Dion be made to the Maine Veterans’ Home, attention Nursing Scholarship Fund, 310 Cony Rd., Augusta, ME 04330. Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives, LLC, 198 Western Ave., Augusta, ME 04330.
MARIE B. (VERVILLE) DION
