Elizabeth Dunning

Beth Dunning passed away on June 11, 2024, after a short illness. Born on February 17, 1938, in Bangor, Maine, she was the daughter of the late John E. Largay and Elizabeth (Scribner) Largay.

Beth graduated from John Bapst Memorial High School in 1956. She earned a B.S. in Education from Gorham State Teachers College in 1960 and a M.Ed in Education from the University of Maine in 1963.

Beth enjoyed a distinguished career in education spanning over 40 years. She began at Vine Street School in Bangor. Following a break to raise her family, she returned to teaching at Akron Central School in 1980. After settling back in Maine in 1983, she continued her dedication to education at Caravel Middle School, Hermon High School (until retirement in 2003), and later as a substitute teacher. She also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development for over a decade, where she received recognition for her teaching and mentoring in 2016, before retiring in 2017. She taught and inspired many students and future educators throughout her career. Beth volunteered for many years as a tutor at the Dyslexia Learning Center at the Bangor Masonic Center and at The Attic Thrift Store.

Beth was predeceased by her husband of 53 ½ years, John H. Dunning. They were inseparable and shared many happy laughter filled days. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, cherishing time with her family and friends. She possessed a remarkable ability to connect with people and made lifelong friendships wherever she worked and lived. She loved to spend time in her garden, growing flowers and veggies. She was also an avid baker. Neighborhood kids would often gather in her kitchen for batches of her fried dough, doughnuts & other baked goods. Summertime at Green Lake was never complete without her sheet pan pizza. In her later years, the highlight of her weeks were the lunches she would share with friends, especially Thursdays with the John Bapst crew.

In addition to her parents and husband, John, Beth was predeceased by her sisters, Irene (McGillicuddy) McFarland and Sister Mary Gemma Connelly (Sisters of Mercy); and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Sandra Dunning.

She is survived by her children, David & wife Julie (Orrington), Kathryn Dunning Clark & husband John (South Portland), Timothy & wife Sheila (Clinton, CT); Grandchildren, Matthew (Mikaila) Dunning, Michael (fiancée, Renée Clavette) Dunning, Samantha Clark, Erin Clark, & Emerson Dunning; siblings, John Largay, Jr., Tom (Betty-Jo) Largay, Lynda (James) Cratty, and in-laws, John “Packy” McFarland, George Dunning & wife Cindy; as well as many nieces, nephews, and special friends, Sheila Cyr and Priscilla Quinn.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call from 3-5PM on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. John’s Catholic Church, St. Paul the Apostle Parish, 217 York Street, Bangor, Maine on Monday, June 24, 2024 at 11AM followed by the Rite of Committal at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery, Bangor. Following interment, all are welcome to share stories and refreshments at the Family Reception Center of Brookings-Smith, 163 Center Street, Bangor.

Gifts in Beth’s memory may be made to the Elizabeth L. Dunning Memorial Scholarship fund to benefit education students at the University of Maine at Our.umaine.edu/dunning or mailed to University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, ME 04469-5792.