Obituary of Frances Ann Dunning

DEDHAM – Frances Ann Dunning, 81 passed away peacefully February 25, 2021, surrounded by her family at her home on Green Lake.  She was born December 25, 1939 in Bangor, to June King Dunning and John Kilgore Dunning. She was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, John Garland Dunning Jr.

Frances Ann graduated at the top of her class from John Bapst Memorial High School at the age of 16.  She continued her education at Westbrook Junior College and earned her A.S. degree in Medical Technology at the age of 18.  She then spent the next 28 years building a home and raising her children in Hampden.  Once all her children were in school, she filled in as substitute teacher, assisted with sports physical clinics, and started the Tennis Team at Hampden Academy.  In the 1980s, she entered back into the workforce fulltime serving as a phlebotomist, a genetic technician, and then as the Director of Volunteer Services at Eastern Maine Medical Center.  While working, she began taking courses part-time and earned her baccalaureate degree in Human Development from the University of Maine in 1988.  That stoked her passion for knowledge, and she enrolled in the first class of the new master’s in social work earning her graduate degree in 1990.  The lessons she learned helped her to find her professional calling as a psychotherapist.  Over the next thirty years she was able to apply her life experience and academic knowledge to help countless individuals and families throughout eastern Maine.  She continued her work through 2021 and when asked if she should retire, she always answered, “If I can still help people, why should I stop?”.

She will be greatly missed by her children, John G. Dunning III and spouse Gayle, Kelley Dunning Andrews and spouse Daniel, Scott Collins Dunning and spouse Holly, Ninh Dinh Nguyen and spouse Mia-jo; eight grandchildren, Samantha Adair Nguyen, Mackenzie Rae Dunning, Zachary Scott Dunning, Jack Ryan Dunning, Donald T. Andrews, Jennifer L. Roy, Heather Lavaway, and Carrie Bailey; seven great-grandchildren Megan C. Roy, Allison L. Roy, Olivia R. Andrews, Brettin M Dinsmore, David Alexander, Kennidy L. Alexander, Bentley R. Lavaway; great great-grandson Lucas A. Dill.  She will also be missed by a multitude of very close friends such as Jennifer and Michael O’Neal, Peter Keebler, Cheryl and Cliff Worcester and Pat Whitney, along with many others and countless grateful clients.  

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in her name to Northern Light Health Foundation. https://northernlighthealth.org/Locations/Foundation/Donation-Opportunities  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 A.M. Monday, March 1, 2021, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John’s Catholic Church, Bangor.  A livestream will be available on the parish website.  A private celebration of life will be held in the upcoming summer at her home on Green Lake.

Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 299 Union St., Bangor.  Messages and memories may be shared with the family at kileyandfoley.com