NEW SHARON – Jessie Flora (Harris) Dill, 77, passed away on Aug. 30, 2015 at The Hospice House of Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice in Auburn, with her loving family by her side. She had a kidney transplant with a kidney donated by her son Robert, which gave her a few years of reprieve from dialysis, as Dana stood by her side from day one until her last breath.
Jessie was born on Sept. 14, 1937, in New Sharon, the second child of Clinton and Flora (Deane) Harris. She attended New Sharon schools, and graduated as valedictorian of her class of 1955. After high school, she started nursing school at the Peabody Home for Crippled Children in Needham, Mass., for a year. Later on, she worked for MSAD 9 in the high school cafeteria, until her health forced her into retirement.
Jessie married Dana Dill of Phillips on Nov. 25, 1956, at the New Sharon Congregational Church. They lived in Phillips for five years, then moved to the village of New Sharon. Their son David was born in 1959, followed by another son Robert born in 1960, and later adopted their daughter Darlene.
Jessie was a devoted member of the New Sharon Congregational Church for 40 years, where she also taught Sunday school. She also served on various committees of the Franklin Association. Jessie was an avid camper, spending many seasons at Dummer’s Beach in Weld.
She enjoyed sewing, cooking, many types of crafts and genealogy. She loved family get-togethers, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Dana Dill of New Sharon; her two sons, David Dill and wife Pat of New Sharon, Robert Dill and wife Dawn of Rome, N.Y.; her daughter Darlene Power of New Sharon; her grandsons: Travis Dill and family, Justin Dill and family, all of New Sharon; her sisters: Eda Wilson and husband Paul of Woodruff, S.C., Anna Churchill of Madison and Rosemary McCormick and husband Ross of New Sharon; her brothers: John Harris and wife Judy of Manistee, Mich., Eugene Harris and wife Sandra of Farmington; her sisters-in-law, Rolene Harris and Carmen Crocker.
She was predeceased by her sisters: Myra Harris and Nellie Wiess; her brothers, Deane, Elwood, and Joseph Harris; and brother-in-law Ellsworth Crocker.
Donations may be made in Jessie’s memory to the New Sharon Congregational Church, PO Box 114, New Sharon, ME 04955 or to Androscoggin Hospice House, 15 Strawberry Ave., Lewiston ME 04243.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the New Sharon Congregational Church, 21 Cape Cod Hill Road, New Sharon. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 at the church with Rev. Marcia Charles officiating. A reception will follow at the church vestry. Interment will be at the Evergreen Cemetery, Dodge Road in Phillips.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, ME 04938.
A Wonderful Mother, you will forever live on in our hearts, I Love & Miss You Mom.
Your Loving Daughter
Darlene
Condolences to the family !
Jessie was one of the finest ladies you would ever want to meet. She fought a long, hard fight. Rest in Peace.
Jessie was the rarest of people. She always gave more than she took. Almost everyone, it seems, knew Jessie as the lunch lady at school. We knew her as friend and role model. She was a fighter, against the kidney disease that so cruelly attacked her, and she was a lover, of all around her, family and friends alike, as well as those she didn’t know. She often expressed her prayer at Sunday worship for peace in the world, peace in our communities and peace in our families.
We cannot measure what she meant to our little church. It is largely because of Jessie that our church continues to offer Christian education to children when so many churches cannot. Jessie was always at worship, no matter how well or poorly she felt, and that set a powerful example for everyone else. Jessie was the first to welcome us back to church after Marilyn was diagnosed with cancer.
To Dana, David, Robert, Darlene, Travis, Stacy, Rose Mary and all the family we haven’t yet met, our deepest sympathy and deep thanks for taking care of Jessie as she had taken care of her family for so many years.
Peace, Jessie, and God bless you.
Marilyn and Bob Neal
Aunt Jessie, you lived your life to the fullest and impacted so many lives, including mine. Your light did shine ever so brightly; therefore, we glorify our Heavenly Father because of you. We love you and will miss you. “[Until we] gather at the river, … that flows by the throne of God,” may you rest in His wonderful peace.
Your Nephew,
Mark
Our thoughts are with you Darlene and family… Mrs. Dill is now walking (working along side) the angels…
Jeri & Kenny
Prayers and thoughts with you and your family. May she rest in peace.
Jessie was a great neighbor on Old Rt. 2, always with a friendly smile and helping hand. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Love to you Dana for taking such good care of Jessie. We hope you are getting along okay. We’ll see you as soon as we can. We miss Jessie all ready.
Jesse…dedicated…to her family, to her church, to her community, the historical society. Always a “do-er”, always a giver. And a good person…one of the best!! Some of the best people get the toughest road to travel, but Jesse did it with a smile and a warm laugh. And with Dana at her side, supporting everything she did, and taking the best care of her he could. She will certainly be missed!!!
Sorry for you and your families lost Dana. My thoughts are with you.
Prayers to your family for your loss. I will always remember when I was in high school and Jessie and my mom worked together and shared rides to the high school. I sometimes caught a ride to school with them and Jessie always had a smile on her face in the morning. She was a very kind lady who always had a kind word for me. My thoughts are with you.
Dana and all of the Dill family,I remember Jesse from when I was quite small and she took care of us for a summer. She treated us just like one of her own.God Bless her and the family.I remember her with a smile as broad as a barn.Did she ever frown? My thoughts are with you,one and all. Wendy Greenough Lovejoy
Darlene
Sorry to hear of your loss. I’m sure you’ll have alot of memories to reflect on.
Sheri
So sorry to all Jesse’s family. She was such a wonderful lady. Thinking of you all.
Please accept my deepest sympathy. Jesse was a truly nice person, her smile will always be remembered. Rest in peace.
Dana and family,
Please know that while no words are ever adequate, I hope that your can find comfort in knowing how much Jessie was loved by so many people. She was such a caring and
giving person. I pray that you are being sustained by the love and support of family and
friends, as well as your faith in God, and the many treasured memories you will always
have of your wonderful wife and best friend.
With deepest sympathy, we offer our sincerest condolences to a wonderful family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
If we all lived our lives the way Jessie Dill did this world would be a much better place.
What a kind, sweet lady she was. My condolences to her family.
Jessie was such a kind lady. I remember her first from the happenings at the Congo Church. She was a dear friend to my Aunt Hazel. When we got married at the church, she and Dana were my contacts. From then on, we’ve exchanged notes & cards at Christmas and occasional visits. She always had a smile even though life was not easy for her. She will be sadly missed by many. Strength and peace to Dana, Darlene, and the entire family.
Eugene, Sandra, and Family—so sorry for your loss.
Ron and Joan Small
We were sorry to hear about Jessie’s passing. She was a great asset to our community, a hard worker friendly and helpful. She was a faithful member of the New Sharon Historical Society. I chatted with here many times on the phone when I was trying to find Dana. I admired Dana for all the care he gave Jessie. Lots of love there. Best wishes to the Dills.
Bill and Ilene Reid
Bob Neal said it far better than I can. After holding her hand during the Lord’s prayer at church sometimesthese last few weeks, I guess I’ll have to settle for Dana. Lots of New Sharon people around my age had Jessie for a baby sitter. I still remember Mom getting upset because Jessie let my brother and I toast marshmallows on a gas stovetop. I still don’t know what was wrong with that. They tasted good.
To the members of the Dill family, we are so sorry for your loss. We agree with what Cindy Pratt wrote, the world would be a better place is there were more people like Jessie in it. Jessie was a model citizen, giving, giving and giving some more in so many ways that most of us will never know. Jessie is so fortunate to have Dana as her rock for all ages. She is resting in peace we have no doubt about that.
Jeff & Audrey Brown.
Rosemary and family
I’m so sorry for your loss. Jessie was a sweet lady.
Cheryl
My condolences to the family.
To Dana and family, I am so sorry to learn of Jessie’s death. She was part of the State Women’s Fellowship Advisory Council while I was involved and I always looked forward to seeing her at Conference events. A lovely lady. I know she will be greatly missed by her family and by her church.