Mary (DiMaio) Dion

Mary (DiMaio) Dion, age 100, died on December 28, 2018 after a brief illness.  A beloved resident of the Scandinavian Living Center in West Newton, she was born in East Boston and lived for many years in Chicopee, where she raised her family.

The wife of the late Arthur A. Dion, she is survived by her son, Arthur N. Dion (Diane) of Newton Highlands, daughter Denise Kudla (Christopher) of Roswell, GA and grandsons Nicholas Dion (Jaclyn Rappaport) of Cambridge, MA, Jonathan Kudla (Brie) of Marietta, GA and Matthew Kudla of New York City.  She also leaves two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was the daughter of the late Nicola and Concetta DiMaio, and sister of Anthony DiMaio and the late William DiMaio, Thelma Ferrante and Eva Montano.

During her seven years at the Scandinavian Living Center, she helped coordinate regular card and cribbage games with the Newton Parks and Recreation Department and was also ever-ready for a game of Scrabble, Quiddler or scopa with friends and family—and was a crackerjack at all of them.

“Mary was truly one of a kind,” said close friend Win Barnard. “She brought spirit and energy—and clear opinions—to all she did here at the SLC. And her compassion for others was evident every day.”

Well into her eleventh decade, Dion continued to use her skills as a seamstress to sew for family and friends and to knit scarves for charity.  Until recent years, she was a parishioner at Newton’s Sacred Heat Church and active with the Newton Senior Center and the Newton Highlands Women’s Club.

Visiting hours will be Tuesday, January 1 from 2-5 pm at the Eaton & Mackay Funeral Home, 465 Centre Street, Newton Corner. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Sacred Heart Church, 1321 Centre Street, Newton Centre on Wednesday, January 2 at 10:30am and will be followed by burial at Saint Rose de Lima Cemetery in Chicopee. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to: Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham Street, West Newton, MA 02465.  

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