Salem: Nelson L. Dionne age 85 of Salem, died Sunday, April 15, 2007, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, following a long illness. He was the husband of Cecile U. (Caron) Dionne with whom he shared 60 years of marriage.
Born and raised in Salem, he was the son of the late Ludger and Mary Z. (Gagnon) Dionne. During World War II he was employed by Sylvania as an electronic technician while serving with the U.S. Coast Guard Temporary Reserves. For 35 years he was a meat cutter with the A & P food chain and at various periods worked at all the northshore stores.
Nelson was an amateur radio operator, call sign KIVZX and a member of the Yankee Radio Club and the ARRL. He volunteered for the Salem Civil Defense through the 1970 & 1980’s. He was the first person to earn the 2 meter Worked All New England Award. Nelson was also active in scouting, first with the Fraternity Boys Club Troop #2 and then with Ste. Anne Parish Troop #83. He was a former officer of the former Canadian Klondike Club and was the club's Man of the Year in 1976. He was also a 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #76 and was a 4th Degree member of the Father Gabrielle Druillette Assembly, as well as a member of the Holy Name Society of Ste. Anne Parish.
Mr. Dionne also loved music and had an extensive collection of big band albums. He and his wife also loved traveling and for many years vacationed in Florida. Traveling extensively,he attended the antique car flea markets in Hershey and Carliste, PA. Nelson was in Normandy for the 1984 and 1989 D-Day commemoration ceremonies.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by 2 sons: Nelson L. Dionne & his wife Jane of Peabody, Robert A. Dionne of Beverly, 2 daughters: Susanne M. Hurley of Beverly and Karen A. Lambert of Oviedo, FL, 7 grandchildren: Nicolas & Collette Dionne, Jeffrey, Sherry & Claire Lambert, Elissa & Katherine Hurley and also several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by 5 sisters: Lillian Tardiff, Jeannette Carson, Annette Kiley, “Bea” Antoinette Cronin and Mary Reagan.
Private funeral services were held from the Levesque Funeral Home of Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472 or the Walker Transportation Collection @ the Beverly Historical Society, 117 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915-5196.