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Dagmar I. Slaven

1941 - 2016

Dagmar I. Slaven obituary, 1941-2016, Quincy, MA

BORN

1941

DIED

2016

FUNERAL HOME

Sweeney Brothers Home For Funerals Inc

1 Independence Ave

Quincy, Massachusetts

Dagmar Slaven Obituary

Dagmar I. (Stoerkel) Slaven, age 75, died peacefully, Monday, June 27, 2016, at home, surrounded by her loving family. Dagmar was born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany. Her life began in 1941, in the shadow of World War II. While her family faced challenges in the post-war years, she remembered her childhood as being a generally happy one filled with music and relatives coming together to help each other out. As a young woman, she earned an associate's degree in Business Administration and worked as bilingual secretary for various companies in Frankfurt, including Bausch & Lomb GmbH. While at Bausch & Lomb, she had the opportunity to take a year-long sabbatical starting in the fall of 1964. She spent this time in Pakistan where she worked for the general manager of the Hotel Karachi Intercontinental. Her time in Pakistan and her experiences there greatly widened her world horizon and became an important influence and factor for her future outlook on life. She married her husband Francis W. Slaven, Jr. in 1969 and immigrated with him to the United States in 1971. They lived in Weymouth and had two sons. Dagmar became a U.S. citizen in the fall of 1997. Dagmar enjoyed music, reading and traveling. She pursued many hobbies including photography, crafts, gardening, and playing her guitar and recorder. She was a longtime member of Fort Square Presbyterian Church in Quincy, where she was a choir member and served on the Deacon Board. She also was a past president of the Friendship Circle women's group, and for many years was active in the Vacation Bible School Program at the church. In 1989 she received the diagnosis of a rare muscle wasting disease, Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM). She faced the challenges of this incurable disease by becoming not only very well educated but also a passionate and tireless activist for greater awareness about the disease. She was actively involved in many fundraisers for the Myositis Association, managing several walks to raise funds. She also managed on several occasions to have local newspapers report about her story to increase greater awareness for Myositis. She created her own web site in 2007, www.myomusings.com. Yearly, she courageously chronicled her own journey and openly talked about the relentless progression of her disease and the coping mechanisms she found helpful. In doing so, she increased overall awareness about Myositis and brought hope and much needed advice to numerous patients all around the world. Beloved wife of Francis Willis "Bill" Slaven, Jr. for forty-seven years, she was the devoted mother of Michael C. Slaven and his partner Greg L. Gibson of Abington, Mark A. Slaven and his wife Patricia C. (Walsh) of Hanover. Cherished daughter of the late August and Charlotte (Besserer) Stoerkel of Frankfurt, Germany. Dear sister of Ursula Kiesow, Albrecht Stoerkel, Roswitha Forest and Karl-Ulrich Stoerkel. Dagmar is also survived by many nieces and nephews on both continents. Funeral services will be conducted at the Fort Square Presbyterian Church, 16 Pleasant Street, Quincy, on Friday, July 1, at 11 a.m. Pastor John W. Culp will officiate. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Sweeney Brothers Home for Funerals, 1 Independence Avenue, Quincy on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. At the request of the family, interment services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dagmar's memory may be made to the Myositis Association, 1737 King Street, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314 or to Mario and Paige Mino's Mission in Guatemala. Checks can be made payable to Pathways Community Church and earmarked for Campos de Suenos/Scholarships and mailed to Nora Chesser/Mario Mino, c/o Pathways Community Church, 801 Seminole Blvd., Largo, FL 33770. You are invited to visit www.thesweeneybrothers.com or call 617-472- 6344.

Published by The Patriot Ledger on Jun. 28, 2016.
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Memories and Condolences
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I just found out about Dagmar's passing today. This is a tremendous loss for us who suffer from this incurable disease. I will miss our long conversations. Dagmar was such a source of inspiration and support.
I am truly sorry for your loss Bill and to your sons. Her suffering is now over and she will be watching over from Heaven. May time heal your heart.

Kathy Slove

July 20, 2016

Bill & Family,

So sorry to hear of Dagmar's passing. A brave lady. Hopefully she is in a better place. many memories of the Weisbaden visit and meeting her and later visits in the States.
RIP Dagmar

Keep in touch
Al & Heather Risley

Alan Risley

July 13, 2016

Bill & Sons. I am so sorry for your loss. I will miss her extraordinary personality and superb wisdom. It was a pleasure to have known you both and an honor to have spent the time I did with her.
God Bless

Tero Stevenson

July 4, 2016

I really enjoyed getting to know Dagmar over the last few years. She was such a champion for her cause and I, along with many of our home health aides, learned so much from her. She faced everything with such grace and she will be missed.

Tomika Shaw, R.N.

July 1, 2016

So sorry to hear of Dagmar's passing. She was a loving, wonderful woman and will be missed by all who knew her.

Dawn Link

July 1, 2016

Thank you for your friendship Dagmar and all the beautiful memories we shared together.I will miss you so much.Rest in Peace.

Christiane your friend forever

Christiane Pearse

June 29, 2016

Dear Bill and Family,

Sorry to learn of the passing of your beloved wife, devoted mother, sister, and aunt! You will be in my heart and prayers at this difficult time! We know Dagmar is with the Lord, and fought a courageous battle for many years with her supportive family,

Blessing,
Nancy Nelson

Nancy Nelson

June 29, 2016

Dear Bill and family,
Iz and I were saddened to hear about Dagmar.
May God's goodness and mercy be with you and give you and your family peace and comfort in the years ahead.
With many fond memories,
Lloyd and Iz

June 28, 2016

Dear Bill and Family,

My deepest condolences on the passing of Dagmar. My prayers and thoughts are with all of you. God Bless.

Cathy Costello

June 28, 2016

Bill and family, so sorry to hear about Dagmar's passing. She was truly an ambassador about her illness and educating others. May she rest peacefully and may you find comfort with your memories.

Judi Rowell

June 28, 2016

Dear Bill and Family,
We all so enjoyed our time with Dagmar at the pool at S.S.Hospital. We have missed her greatly since she left and have thought and spoke of her often. I will tell the others who knew Dagmar.
Dagmar was a great lady! Always showed such great courage.
We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers
Take care, Carol & Louie Rege, Milton

Carol & Louis Rege

June 28, 2016

So sorry for your loss Bill.

Dave Hicks

June 28, 2016

Dearest Dagmar, We will always miss you. Thanks so much for the inspiration you gave to us, and for your friendship and courage. love, Patti Smith

Patricia Smith

June 28, 2016

Showing 1 - 13 of 13 results

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Memorial Events
for Dagmar Slaven

Jun

30

Visitation

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Sweeney Brothers Home For Funerals Inc

1 Independence Ave, Quincy, MA 02169

Jul

1

Funeral service

11:00 a.m.

Fort Square Presbyterian Church

16 Pleasant Street, Quincy, MA

Funeral services provided by:

Sweeney Brothers Home For Funerals Inc

1 Independence Ave, Quincy, MA 02169

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