Arlene Jean DiMillo

Arlene Jean Bell DiMillo passed away July 11, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on June 15th, 1936, in Portland Maine to Jane “Jennie” Harriet Bradshaw. She grew up on Cumberland Avenue, across from Cathedral church. She was a very proud graduate of Portland High School Class of ’54 along with her lifelong friends Josephine Dulac, Kay Thomas, Maxine Hight, Roberta Platts, and Patty O’Malley. In addition to being a proud bulldog, she often reminded her family of her “Best Dressed” superlative she earned at good old PHS.

She was industrious from the beginning, working a variety of jobs including bookkeeping, packing chocolates in a factory, and retail clerking. It seemed as though every time we turned around she was telling us of a different job she held before she started her family.

She met the love of her life, Tony DiMillo, at the movie theater as a teenager. After he returned from his service in Korea, they eloped to North Carolina on June 6th, 1955, driving until they found a state that would marry them without their parents’ permission. They returned to Portland to begin their life together. Arlene, as an only child, became a supermom to nine children. She kept an immaculate house, served three home cooked meals every day, did endless laundry, and made sure her family attended church every Sunday. These were just a few of the countless jobs that she did for her family without assist or complaint. In addition to caring for her nine children, husband, and occasional neighborhood kid or two, she stayed close with her mother, who helped with whatever needed to be done around their home.

Throughout the years, her home became a gathering spot on Sundays for all to be together. She served family dinners, holiday meals, baptisms, birthday parties, and any and all family celebrations. In the early years, at their home on Capisic Street, Tony and Arlene hosted annual 4th of July parties where the neighborhood and family and friends would come together to watch the fireworks. Her love and care did not stop with her family but extended to those all around her. She will always be remembered for infectious laugh, witty remarks and good sense of humor.

Those who knew and loved Arlene remember her love for dancing and singing. Her favorite songs being hymns, patriotic songs, Portland High School Fight Song, or any catchy tune.

After raising her nine children, she found her next fulfilment being the face of DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant. She enjoyed greeting customers with a smile and giving priority seating to her favorite “men in uniform”. Upon the passing of her beloved Tony, she took the helm of the restaurant with a great vim and vigor, continuing to grow the business he had built with pride and love. By the end of her work there, she was not only recognized wherever she went about town, she had also gained the love and respect of hundreds of people that may have met her only once, or our repeat loyal customers who looked forward to seeing and talking with her upon arrival at the boat. Her crown of “Best Dressed” continued to shine at DiMillo’s where she was always impeccably styled and never with a hair out of place.

As a grandmother, Arlene loved spending time with all her 24 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She never missed a birthday, or graduation. Her grandchildren remember her fondly for her stories, support, wisdom, and advice.

Arlene enjoyed Tuesday mornings with “The Breakfast Club”, which consisted of Josephine Dulac, Sally Walker, Diane DiPietro, Patty O’Malley, Barbara Viola and more recently, their junior member, her great granddaughter, Morgan Flaherty. They met every week through sun, rain, sleet, and snow to share a meal, reminisce about the good old days, laugh, sing, and keep each other going.

Towards the end of her life, she was thankful to be at home, with all her memories, her view of the pond, and her family by her side. Alzheimer’s took much of Arlene’s joy, but it was never able to steal her love and memories of her family and friends. She greeted us all by name until the end.

Arlene is survived by her nine children and their spouses Vicki and Bruno Napolitano, Eugene and Renee DiMillo, Steven and Marge DiMillo, Stephanie and Tony Quattrucci, Antonio DiMillo Jr, Daniel DiMillo and Sarah O’Neil, Jane DiMillo, John and Beth DiMillo, and Christopher DiMillo; her 24 grandchildren Joe, Danny, Tony, Geno, Nick, Luke, Steven, Chelsea, Samantha, Frankie, Joei, Bianca, Lena, Sara, Anna, Matt, Patrick, Mary Kate, Brittany, Emily, Haley, Dominic, Rocco, and Tiger; her 15 great grandchildren Bobby, Frankie, Avery, Addy, Jack, Finn, Anthony, Madeline, Vinny, Frankie, Aidan, Morgan, Parker, Kaylee, and Eli; her sister-in-law Jeanette Breggia, and brother-in-law John DiMillo. She was predeceased by her mother, her husband, mother-in-law Rose DiMillo, cousins Kip and Madeline Brown, and sisters-in-law Mary Blessing, Adele Jackson, and Jay Ives.

We want to thank: her caregivers Judy Larsen, Kathy Joyce, Patty Nealand, and Jason Rowe who lovingly cared for her in the end (often enduring Arlene’s trademark biting remarks); the staff and volunteers at Hospice of Southern Maine, especially nurse Caitlin who expertly cared for her for over a year, and nurse Cassandra who helped us through her final moments; as well as Dr. Charles Cathcart who made the early years of her Alzheimer’s as manageable as possible.

Relatives & friends are invited to a time of visitation to honor the Life of Arlene to be held on Tuesday July 16, 2024 from 4-7PM at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday July 17, 2024 at 10AM at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Interment will be private. Those who wish to send a tribute in Arlene’s memory may do so at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Marr Fund(Alzheimer’s Research ) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Checks can be made payable to Brigham and Women’s Hospital with “In memory of Arlene DiMillo” in the memo line. Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Development Office, 263 Huntington Avenue #318, Boston MA, 02115-4506 or visit www.bwhgiving.org/memorial to make a gift online.