Joan M. Dion

Joan M. Dion (“Fred” or “Freddie”), 95, of North Kingstown departed this world on July 17, 2024, surrounded by the love of her children and grandchildren. She was born on July 7, 1929, to Irene (Bilodeau) and Edward F. Melia in Newburyport, MA. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, CDR Laurent N. Dion, USN, a pilot who was killed in action in the Vietnam War in 1967, and her sister Jacqueline Salesses, to whom she was particularly close, in 1968.

Joan was a graduate of Hope High School and the Roger Williams Hospital School of Nursing. Upon graduation from nursing school, she worked as a psychiatric nurse at Butler Hospital. She married Laurent (Larry) Dion on June 7, 1952. A supportive and loyal partner, Joan moved around the United States with Larry as he pursued his military career, relocating to spots including Chincoteague, VA, Beeville, TX, and Sanford, FL. After her husband’s death, she settled in Rhode Island to be closer to her mother and father, and her sisters’ families. She returned to nursing at Kent County Memorial Hospital in the 1970s before transitioning to her role as an office administrator for the Kent County YMCA from where she retired in 1994.

Joan was blessed with an eidetic memory, an indomitable will, and mental toughness second to none. She loved sharing the stories of her life with her family, who have found comfort in learning something new about “Fred” in the retelling of them. Her ability to recall precise details of events in her life decades later was a wonderment to her grandchildren who often exclaimed, “Gramma says she can’t remember anything, but she remembers everything!”  She loved her children fiercely and would spare no effort or expense to do what she could to help them. Each of her children knew that their mom would be there for them no matter the situation. And she delivered time and again when called upon, keeping her oldest son out of “trouble” in his youth allowing him to “smarten up,” and saving her youngest son’s life when he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in his early twenties.

Joan’s life was not easy, but she faced its adversities head on with ironclad resolve and persevered when many would have given up. She raised three children on her own at a time when women were discriminated against in employment and the necessities of modern life. She was both a mother and a father to her children, but especially her youngest son, Peter, who never knew any other parent. She was grateful for the loving care provided to her by her daughter Patricia, who was her primary caregiver in the years after her mother defeated colon cancer in 2017. Joan returned to the Catholic Church later in life, which fed her soul and buoyed her spirits in her times of need.

Joan looked forward to her morning newspaper, and the crossword puzzle therein, and was a subscriber to the Providence Journal for over 50 years. She loved the beach, especially Plum Point when she was young, and was a fantastic writer, running her high school newspaper and yearbook. She had a sweet tooth, with a special fondness for ice cream and Oreos. One of our last memories of her is her enjoying a Good Humor Chocolate Éclair ice cream bar on the hottest day of the year. Joan always enjoyed Gregg’s roast turkey dinner at Thanksgiving, or any time.

Joan will be forever cherished by her children, Patricia D. Stoddard (Charles) of Barrington, Paul L. Dion (Bernadette) of North Kingstown, and Peter R. Dion of Warwick (Potowomut), her grandchildren Lauren S. Lawler (Daniel), Bethany N. Stoddard, Melia S. Dion, Laurent N. Dion II, and Peter P. Seymour (Kendra), her great grandchildren Liam and Ellis, her sister June Carpenter, whom she loved dearly, and her beloved sister-in-law Esther Dion. She is also survived by her seventeen nieces and nephews, and her “granddogs” Jazz, whom she adored, and Musket, whom she loved to watch run in her backyard. The hole that has been left in our hearts can never be filled.

The family would like to thank the staff at Grace Barker Nursing Home and HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center nurses, Mary and Taylor, for the kind and compassionate care they provided Mom/Gramma in her final days.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday August 1st at 10:00 am at St. Francis de sales Church, School St., North Kingstown. Burial will be private. Calling hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her name to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 381 School Street, North Kingstown, RI 02852 and include “Jacob’s Gift Fund” in the memo line, or online at www.saintfds.org using the Give Here button on the home page under Online Giving and include “Jacob’s Gift Fund” in the notes field.