PORTLAND — Longtime Portland resident, Ann Jessica Dillon, died March 22, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough after an eight-month struggle with colon cancer.

Dillon was one of six children born in Presque Isle to Frederick and Elizabeth (Freeman) Rediker. Dillon attended Cathedral and Portland High schools after her family moved to Portland.

She married John G. Dillon in 1966, and lived in East Hartford, Connecticut, until 1973, when Dillon moved back to Portland. Dillon worked as a medical transcriptionist for many years until she retired from Maine Medical Center in 2010. She earned Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Southern Maine at the age of 60.

Dillon was active in Alcoholics Anonymous for many years, and sponsored several people. She also gave her time to Literacy Volunteers for seven years, and volunteered at the Maine Youth Center. Dillon also provided long-term care and support to her lifelong friend, Nancy Lewis.

Dillon was predeceased by her husband, her parents and four siblings, Evelyn, Freeman, Frank and Kate.

She is survived by her son, Frederick; two grandchildren, Brooke and Emily; a sister, Helen; and several nieces and nephews, Rick, Adrian and Julian Rediker, and Ed, Karen and Steve Kenney.

Dillon’s family would like to thank her caregivers at Deering Pavilion, Home Health Visiting Nurses, Hospice of Southern Maine and Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

A celebration of life will be held later in the spring.

Dillon