Mary L. Dionne

Mary Lee Dionne, 65, of Kent passed away on Nov. 9, 2024, at the Cleveland Clinic after a brief illness.

Mary was born on June 28, 1959, to Jack and Nora Anderson and was raised by her loving foster parents, John Petel and Sarajane (Petel) Powell, in Kent. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1978.

On May 2, 1981, Mary married Chuck Dionne, and they called Kent home for most of their lives. There, they raised two children, Paul and Patricia, who Mary loved endlessly. She and Chuck spent countless hours watching Paul play hockey, from his early games at just three years old until graduating from high school. She and Patricia shared a passion for music and attended many concerts together, including seeing their favorite band, Matchbox Twenty, several times. Mary, Paul and Chuck particularly enjoyed watching the 2024 season of the Cleveland Guardians, cheering them on through the American League Championship Series.

Mary also enjoyed crocheting and cross stitching, watching the Golden Girls, and camping trips, vacations and quality time with her family. She was especially fond of the Great Smoky Mountains – after working in Bryson City, North Carolina, in her teens, she introduced Chuck, Paul and Patricia to the beauty of the Smokies, and, together, they enjoyed many return visits.

Mary’s caring heart and love for children extended beyond their family. She owned and operated her own daycare for nearly 15 years, nurturing the lives of numerous local children. In later years, she mentored local school students as part of the Odyssey of the Mind program.

Mary also dedicated 23 years to Allstate as an underwriter, a career of which she was particularly proud.

Mary is survived by her loving husband of 43 years, Chuck; children Paul and Patricia (Lee Gidley); siblings Penny (Doug) Foster, Linda Anderson, Jackie (Patrick) Juhasz, Jay Anderson and Jimmy Anderson; foster siblings Nathan (Laura) Petel, Rob (Jana) MacQueen and Jen Petel; foster mother Sarajane (Petel) Powell, stepmother Kathy Petel; and brothers-in-law Richard Dionne and Thomas (Julie) Dionne; along with multiple nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Clarence and Mary Dundon; parents Jack and Nora Anderson; foster father John Petel; in-laws Armand and Jackie Dionne; and sister-in-law Tammy Dionne.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation at Newcomer Funeral Home in Akron on Monday, November 18 from noon to 1 p.m. A private graveside service and interment will follow at Standing Rock Cemetery in Kent. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mary’s name can be made to Toys for Tots or the Portage County Animal Protective League, in honor of her beloved cats Tigger and Lucky.