Laurette "Laurie" Elizabeth Dahlen (Riback) (McDermott)

Laurette "Laurie" Dahlen (Riback) (McDermott) passed away peacefully on December 25, 2024 at the age of 69. Laurie was in her son's home, with her daughter by her side and the vibrant and beloved voice of Jim Dale reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in the background - a moment filled with love, comfort, and a touch of magic, just as she would have wanted.

Laurie was born on March 15, 1955, in Bakersfield, California, to Laurette and Garrett McDermott. She grew up there with her sisters, Frances and Constance ("Connie"), and carried fond memories of her childhood throughout her life. Bakersfield was also where she began building her "Framily" - friends who became like family. Later in life, she often returned with her husband and children to visit her beloved sisters, creating unforgettable, heat-soaked family memories filled with love, laughter, and stories.

In 1975, After obtaining an Associate of Arts degree at Bakersfield College, Laurie left for San Diego State University, where she continued to build lifelong friendships and earned her bachelor's degree in accounting in 1977. She often credited those years with giving her both unforgettable experiences and the foundation of her unwavering "Framily" - most notably her cherished friendships with Corrine Allen and Cindy Elder. When asked to recount her time in college, a sly smile would tug at the corners of her mouth as she offered only a few words: "Well, I did go to San Diego State in the '70s!"

In 1977, Laurie met Gary Riback in the parking lot of her apartment - an encounter marked by his humor and charm. They married in 1978 and shared more than 20 years together building a life filled with laughter and love, until Gary's untimely passing on January 4, 2000. Laurie embraced Gary's children from a previous marriage, Steven Riback and Michele Masjedi, and together they welcomed two more children: Jeffrey Riback and Amy Younger.

The Riback family spent 18 years in Mira Mesa, where Laurie continued to expand her "Framily," especially with close friends Janet and Alan Beyea and their children, Matthew and David. Laurie had a deep commitment to both her family and her community. She was active in the Mira Mesa Jr. Women's Club, served as a leader for both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts troops, and supported her children's many activities - from softball and baseball games to marching band performances.

Laurie ran a home daycare for several years before beginning a successful career with the City of Escondido, where she retired in 2017 as a Payroll Analyst. She had a gift for making and keeping deep, lasting friendships - cultivating them wherever she went: in Bakersfield, in Mira Mesa, at work, and even on her neighborhood and harbor walks. She was beloved by her coworkers and her community alike.

Laurie later found companionship with her second husband, Earl Dahlen, and together they shared precious years of retirement and travel.

Laurie always managed to find beauty and joy in life, even when faced with trials, pain, grief, and loss that so often lingered in the background. Her greatest challenge came in the summer of 2022, when she was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma just months after the death of her second husband. She faced it with fierce determination - refusing to lose her sense of self or stop reaching for happiness. And she succeeded, continuing to find joy, share laughter, and crack jokes until the very end.

Above all, Laurie found immense joy in her role as grandmother. She is survived by five grandchildren: Gabi, Zak, and Rosie Riback (children of Steven and Wendy Riback), and identical twins Logan and Wyatt Riback (children of Jeffrey Riback and Jennifer Souza). Her love for them was boundless, and they brought her great pride and happiness.

Laurie's most remarkable gift was the way she made people feel - deeply loved, truly important, and never alone. She lived with fierce empathy, quiet strength, and an unshakable dedication to those she cared about. Her legacy is one of compassion, connection, and the kind of love that doesn't end.

Laurie is survived by her children Steven Riback (Wendy), Jeffrey Riback (Jennifer), and Amy Younger (Andrew); her sisters Frances Benson (Herbert) and Connie Martin (Robert); her brother Michael McDermott; nieces and nephews Katie Sayles (Jim), Grace Martin, and Haley Martin; and many extended family members and cherished friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Constance and Garrett McDermott; her first husband, Gary Riback; her second husband, Earl Dahlen; her Aunt Marion Vaughn and cousin Billy Vaughn; and close family friends Alan Beyea and Jeffrey Gordon.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, a cause close to Laurie's liver.

A memorial service to celebrate Laurie's life will be held on June 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at El Camino Memorial Park, 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121. Laurie will be laid to rest beside her first husband, Gary Riback.

The family warmly invites all who knew and loved Laurie to join in honoring her memory and celebrating the joy she brought to so many lives. Your presence would mean a great deal to the family during this time.

Following the service, food and memories will be shared at the home of Cindy Elder. Address and directions will be provided at the service.