Noreen A. (McCarthy) Dion, 73, of Keene and formerly of Scarborough, Maine, and Holyoke, Massachusetts died on Monday, October 12, 2020, at Langdon Place of Keene. She passed peacefully with her daughters at her side.
Noreen was born the daughter of the late Eleanor (Bergmann) and Albert McCarthy on November 29, 1946, in Holyoke, MA. She graduated from Holyoke High School in 1964. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education and Foreign Languages from Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA. in 1968. During her time at Anna Maria, she spent a year abroad studying French Studies in Paris, France. She went on to earn her Master´s degree in Education from American International College in Springfield, MA in 1970.
On April 20, 1974, she married the love of her life, John P. Dion at Blessed Sacrament Church in Holyoke, MA.
She was last employed at Scarborough High School in Maine as a teacher, teaching French and Spanish for 15 years before
her retirement in 2012. Prior, she had worked at Keene High School teaching French and Spanish from 1984-1989 and previous to that at South Hadley High School in MA from 1970-1984. In her earlier years, she worked at CFX Bank in Keene on West St as a receptionist from 1989-1996. She also loved working with immigrants and taught English as a Second Language through Keene Community Education.
She loved to travel all over the country with multiple trips to Europe. She loved spending time with family, cooking, baking, reading to her grandchildren, shopping, fashion and jewelry. She loved to help others in any way she could and after her husband passed away in 2002, she was a hospice volunteer in Maine before she began her 10 yr battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She loved art and taking her children and grandchildren to Art museums. She had a love, especially for French Impressionist art. Her disease robbed her of the ability to speak the last yr or two of her life but she often enjoyed outings to get her nails done and loved to watch HGTV with those who visited. She had a knack for and love for interior design and decorating. She also was blessed with many caring staff members who took great care of her in the Homestead Unit at Langdon Place where she was given the nickname ¨Nono¨.
Mrs. Dion is survived by her two daughters; Kathleen M. Corliss of Norway, ME. and Patti Dion Marshall, and her husband, Daniel of Keene. Her siblings; Alice Moreau of South Hadley, MA. Eleanor Bourque and her husband, Ken of South Hadley, MA. and Albert McCarthy J. and his wife, Debra of Westfield, MA. Her eight grandchildren; Brittany Corliss, Caitlin Brooks, Ashleigh Marshall, Kaylee Marshall, John Corliss, Kelcie Marshall, Ella Corliss, and Emma Corliss. In addition, she leaves; three great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends including 3 very special friends who continued to support her and visit throughout her disease, Janet Gravel, Judy Jordan, Michelle LaPalme all of Massachusetts. She is predeceased by her parents and her husband John who passed in 2002,
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, October 18, 2020, from 2 to 4 pm. @ Cheshire Family Funeral Home on Maple Ave in Keene. A graveside service with Christian Burial Rights will be held on Monday, October 19, 2020, at 11 am. in the family lot at St. Jerome’s Cemetery, 125 St. Jerome Ave. Holyoke, MA. 01040. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic masks and social distancing will be required. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimers Association or to a scholarship fund being set up at Savings Bank of Walpole at 817 Court St in Keene, NH 03431 for the purpose of honoring Noreen’s teaching career by having a yearly scholarship in her name for graduating seniors.
All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Chapel and Crematories, 44 Maple Ave. Keene, NH. 03431. WWW.cheshirefamilyfh.com
