Update on the Gathering on Tuesday!
Hi everyone – there’s been another change of plans. The gathering will now be held at Carol and Frank Hall's house:
📍 10803 Burr Oak Way
Burke, VA 22015
📞 703-250-6319
Rusty will be at this house all day, so feel free to stop by anytime after 2 to say hello!

Update for Wednesday:
A church service will now be held at St. Michael Catholic Church before the funeral.

📍 St. Michael Catholic Church
7401 St. Michael’s Lane
Annandale, Virginia 22003
🕙 10:00 AM

💜 Celebrating the Life of Barbara Dionne 💜
Our family invites you to join us as we honor and celebrate the beautiful life of our beloved Barbara. Your presence, prayers, and memories mean so much to us during this time.

Funeral Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Time: 2:45 PM
Please arrive to the Old Post Chapel No Later Than 2:30 PM

Location: Old Post Chapel, Fort Myers, Virginia Old Post Chapel. 204 Arlington Ave, Fort Myer, VA 22211

Entry Information:

To attend, please obtain a visitor pass to enter Arlington National Cemetery and Fort Myers Military Base by clicking the link below:

🔗 https://pass.aie.army.mil/jbm…

***Please complete this form ASAP as it might take a few days to process and get approved to access the base.
Please bring a REAL ID–compliant ID, Passport (or a valid military ID) with you for entry.
Funeral Service:

Enter through Hatfield Gate at the intersection of 2nd Street South and Washington Boulevard (Route 27). The gate has a Visitor Control Center for those without pre-approved passes.
Directions from Security Checkpoint to Old Post Chapel:
• Turn right out of the checkpoint.
• At the stop sign, turn left onto McNair Road.
• Turn right onto Arlington Ave/Meigs Ave.
• Parking is available in the lot across from the chapel.
Procession & Repass:

Following the chapel service, the funeral procession will continue to the gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery.

After the graveside service, all are warmly invited to join us for the repass:
📍 Patton Hall. 214 Buffalo Soldier Ave, Fort Myer, VA 22211

Below information about Arlington National Cemetery:

Arlington National Cemetery, our nation’s most hallowed ground, is the final resting place for nearly 430,000 active-duty service members, veterans and their families. This historic cemetery bears witness to American heritage and the military service and sacrifice of men and women in uniform throughout U.S. history.
Veterans are laid to rest with dignity and honor at Arlington National Cemetery by a compassionate and dedicated work force. We believe that caring for our nation's heroes and their families during their time of need is a sacred duty entrusted to us.

• We conduct 24 to 27 services each weekday. Funeral services are held Monday through Friday (except on federal holidays) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Good evening,

I was just notified by Arlington Cemetery that all individuals entering Arlington Cemetery or Fort Myer Military Base must present either a military ID or a REAL ID. My sincere apologies for the late notice; we only just received this information ourselves.

On Thursday of this week, I will send out a link to the form that must be completed by all civilians needing access to the base or cemetery. Please note that the link is only active within 14 days of the funeral.
Thank you for your understanding and prompt attention to this matter.

Good evening, all,

As of today, we will not be securing a room block at a local hotel as originally planned. We recommend booking a room at the Embassy Suites in Springfield, which is just a few exits from Rusty’s house.

Here’s the link to the hotel:
https://www.hilton.com/en/hot…

Additionally, please note that the pizza party has been moved to Rusty’s house on Tuesday, October 7th. The address is 5004 Terrill Street, Annandale, VA

Apologies for any confusion, and thank you for your flexibility.

Best,

ET

Special thanks to everyone who has reached out to the family regarding Barbara’s passing. Your kind words and support mean so much during this time.

A few updates to share:

On Tuesday evening, October 7th, all are welcome to join us at the hotel conference room for pizza and beverages. This will give us an opportunity to catch up and share memories about Barbara in a more informal setting.

As previously mentioned, there will be a church service at the chapel on Fort Myer at 2:45 PM on Wednesday, October 8th. For those without a military ID, a base access form will be required. A link to complete this form will be posted here two weeks prior to the service.

Please note that the chapel service will be approximately 20 minutes, followed by a graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery and then a reception at the Officers’ Club.

The following morning, Thursday, October 9th, all are welcome to join the family for a full memorial Mass in Barbara’s honor at St. Michael’s Church in Annandale, VA. We will share the exact time once it is confirmed. The service will be followed by a luncheon at Kilroy’s, one of Aunt Barbara and Uncle Rusty’s favorite spots.

We are currently working on securing a block of rooms at a nearby hotel and hope to have details available this week. Updates will continue to be posted here as they become available.

We just learned that the service for Aunt Barbara will be held on Wednesday, October 8 at 2:45 PM at the chapel on Fort Myer. There will be a full Mass, followed by a burial at the cemetery, and then a reception at the Officers’ Club. More details will follow regarding how to obtain base access. In the meantime, feel free to contact Erin Thompson at (571) 491-7075 with any questions you may have.

Please let me know if you’ll need a hotel room, and I’ll work on setting up a room block at a local hotel.

We invite you to share your favorite photos, memories, or stories about Barbara—or simply leave a message for the family. Your kind words and reflections mean so much to us during this time.