Janet Louise (Irwin) Dillon

On Sunday, May 3, 2020, Janet Louise (Irwin) Dillon, loving wife of the late Maurice ‘Boonie’ Dillon, passed away at the age of 89 surrounded by loved ones in Sunrise, FL.

Janet was the mother of three married children: Trina (Dillon) Crowley and her husband Jack of Fairhaven MA; Susan (Dillon) Worthington and her husband Bobby of Sunrise, FL; and Bob Dillon and his wife Jan of Scituate, MA. She was grandmother to Brian and Ray Kirby; JR Worthington and his wife Katie; Kelly (Dillon) Hurley and her husband Mike; Kristin (Dillon) Sturgeon and her husband Dave and; Bobby Dillon and his fiancé Katie Reynolds. Janet also had 6 great grandchildren: Elora Kirby; Brooke Worthington; Dillon and Timothy Hurley and; Hailey and Kyle Sturgeon. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Janet was born October 27, 1930 in Cambridge Massachusetts. Her mother Pauline Lohnes Irwin was born and raised in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia where Janet and her late brother, Tom Irwin, enjoyed summers in Canada among her many Lohnes aunts, uncles and cousins. She attended Mount Auburn Nursing School in Cambridge and became a Registered Nurse. She married Maurice ‘Boonie’ Dillon in February 1950 and moved to Scituate, MA where they raised their three children. Janet practiced nursing for forty years throughout Boston, the South Shore and Florida.

Janet had a passion for horse racing and spent her time handicapping and enjoying the sport. She and her late husband Boonie traveled to New York on weekends, Florida throughout the year, and Saratoga in the summer to various horse racing events. Boonie and Janet referred to themselves as a ‘perfect quinella’—a -phrase etched onto their headstones as they both had wished. Janet loved to listen to country music, especially Kitty Wells. Kitty Wells was a family tradition while decorating the Christmas tree. In keeping with her love of country music, Janet often walked around the house carrying a ‘red solo cup’ filled with Pepsi. She also loved to swim and eventually relocated to Florida where she could enjoy horse racing, swimming and the warm weather along with her daughter Susan, Susan’s husband Bobby and their son JR. Janet eventually moved into Susan’s home in Florida where she was lovingly cared for by Susan and her husband Bobby. Janet was known for her quick wit and independent spirit. She had a ready laugh and enjoyed PBS and the many characters, such as Hyacinth on Keeping Up Appearances.  Janet will be remembered as the fun and generous woman she was and will be missed by all who knew her. At this time services are private, and a memorial event will be held at a later date.