Jolie H. Dion-Gottfried

Dion-Gottfried, Jolie Hannah (Jo), age 21, passed away Tuesday, August 7, at home in Portage.

Jolie was born September 22, 1996 in Lewiston Township.  She was always a joy and a delight.  Jolie was incredibly creative:  first with drawing and writing, and then designing the greatest clothing; then writing chicken newspapers and magazines for ten subscribers at age ten.

Jolie was in band from 6th to 12th grade and was a section leader in the Portage Warriors Marching Band.

A Salutorian of her Portage High School class of 2014, Jolie was also a member of German Honor Society and Link Crew and was a tutor.  She was a Questbridge finalist and ambassador.  Jolie had a love of languages, and excelled in German.

At Tufts University, she was on the Dean’s List as a student of American Studies and Education, and was involved in Tufts Literacy Corps, Tufts Chaplaincy, the Humanist community, Tufts Freethought Society. She was also a peer leader, tutor, teacher’s aid and volunteer for many causes.

Jolie took care of everyone around her and was thoughtful, insightful and expressive.  She kept us on our toes, educating her family members (and roommates) on social justice issues and carrying on the progressive cause of her family.

Jolie touched many lives.

Jolie is survived by her mother, Ingrid Gottfried; brother, Sam Dion-Gottfried; grandmothers, Carol Gottfried and Carole Loudd of Ukiah, CA; aunts, Nina Bascia and Kathy Bickmore of Toronto, Ontario and Susan Dion of Delaware; girlfriend, Kaitlyn Cyprian of Colorado; cousins, Ira, Susan, Nathaniel and Polly Vishner of Brookline, Massachusetts, Brett Dion of New York; Raena, Dan, Gabrielle, Livia and Joseph Iocona of New Jersey and J. Mark Newman of California. She was preceded in death by her aunt, Tania Gottfried; grandmother, Antoinette Frances Dion; uncles, Tom Francis and Tom Grimstead.

In her memory, please continue her work in social justice, LGBTQ rights and for the poor and marginalized people in our society.

Friends may stop at her home on Sunday, August 26, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. or her memorial service at Gates of Heaven, 302 East Gorham St. Madison at 10 am on August 27, 2018.

Jolie will live forever in our hearts and minds.

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