June Muriel Dingle (Brideau), 85, of Southport, Maine, died Jan. 31, 2018.

A wonderful woman who will forever be loved and missed, June (or “Granny,” as she was known by 13 grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and even her own children, family and many friends) was born to her beloved parents, Edward and Germaine Brideau (Carrier) on June 1, 1932 in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

After graduating from Amesbury High School and St. Joseph's School of Nursing in Lowell, Massachusetts, she practiced nursing at Amesbury Hospital and met the man she would marry, Robert James Dingle. June and Bob were married on July 3, 1955 and began their family in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. As she said many times, she was “a working mom before 'working mom' was a thing.” Initially a bedside nurse, she found herself drawn to the field of psychiatry. Her efforts with everything “above the neck” eventually led to the work she would talk about for the rest of her life: a pioneering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder research program with veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars. Having become a leader in her field, she was honored to be the first non-degreed nurse (nursing schools at that time were three year certificate programs) to be named assistant ahief of psychiatry within the Veterans Administration.

And then, of course, there was her family. Married to Bob for 60 years, June was so proud of her four children. The stories of family shenanigans in the yards and on the streets of Tyngsboro, along with weeks-long summer vacations each year on the coast of Maine have become Dingle family legend. As her children grew and began families of their own, she marveled at her grandchildren, and then great-grandchildren. To listen to her memories, and watch her eyes light up at family gatherings and visits, was to behold love and wonder. Her family will be forever grateful that she was able to be at home, and be able to visit and be visited up until the moment she was back together with “Grampa.”

This gratitude flows from her brother Edward Brideau of Barrington, New Hampshire; daughter Janet Kempton and her husband Les of Friday Harbor, Washington; her son, Jason Dingle and his partner Barbara Slone of Cranston, Rhode Island; her daughter, Robin Brun and her husband John of Hudson, New Hampshire; and her son, John Dingle and his wife Lisa, of Southport, Maine. And, of course, from her grandchildren (and great-grandchildren): Lyle and Dana Kempton of Friday Harbor, Washington; Meighan Dingle-Blanco and her husband Greg Blanco of Barrington, Rhode Island (and their children, Avery and Crosby); Courtney Malone and her husband Brendan of Swansea, Massachusetts (and their children, Tripp and Finnley); Emma, Lauren and Jameson Dingle of Mansfield, Massachusetts; Jessica Brun of Newton, Massachusetts; Molly Brun of Hookset, New Hampshire, and Mitchell Brun of Houston, Texas; and Mac Dingle and her husband Jack of Seattle, Washington, Sam Dingle of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Gabe Dingle of Southport, Maine.

A private Celebration of Life will be held in June's honor at a later date.

We are better people having known, loved, and been loved by her.

Condolences for the family may be shared at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall’s of Boothbay.