Dian Fedak

Dian Fedak, of West Palm Beach and more recently St. Augustine, died May 9, 2009, at Flagler Hospital after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Newport, R.I., May 9, 1949, to Kathryn and Walter Fedak, Dian was an outstanding student and creative spirit. She graduated from Riviera Beach High School in 1967, received her Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University in 1971 and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence with honors from Florida State University in 1981. After receiving her law degree, Dian worked for the Florida State Attorney's Office until she began her private practice in family law. Her professional excellence and unquestionable ethics prompted members of the judiciary and the bar to award her an AV (Very High to Preeminent) rating, the highest rating presented to outstanding lawyers.

As a teenager, Dian showed an early talent for both clothing and interior design. Her flair remained apparent in her dramatic jewelry, love of textiles, and her artfully crafted home. Many of these items were brought back from trips with family and friends to Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico, New York City, San Francisco, Denver, Las Vegas and North Carolina. She was always planning the next adventure and inviting you along. Although it would be stretching the truth to characterize her as even somewhat athletic, she wholeheartedly embraced skiing, horseback riding, sailing, roller-blading and kayaking, and inevitably had an injury to mark the occasion.

An indomitable advocate for civil rights, Dian championed equality and actively supported candidates whose actions reflected her own. She proudly wore buttons, displayed yard signs and drove voters who were unable to drive themselves to their polling places. She also served as a voters' advocate.

The greatest joy in her life remained her daughter, Lauren Elizabeth Fedak, born in August 1992. She delighted in her first words and steps and watched her grow into a resilient and beautiful young woman of whom she was most proud. Dian attributed the ferocity and optimism with which she battled her cancer to her "heart," her daughter, Lauren.

Dian is survived by her mother, Kathryn Fedak; her daughter, Lauren; her sister, Karen Bunker (Bill); her brothers, Dennis (Linda), Rick (Kathy), Scott (Holly) and Bob (Cyndee); her nieces, Michelle Curtin, Amanda Fedak, Liza Bunker, Alison Bunker, Sarah Fedak and Katie Fedak; her nephew, Craig Fedak; and two grandnieces, Emma Curtin and Elizabeth Curtin. She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Fedak, in 2007.

Dian's life was characterized by incredible optimism, courage and strength of character. We loved her and will miss her.

We would like to thank all the doctors and nurses who lovingly cared for Dian during her illness.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dian's memory to the Ovarian Cancer Survivors Foundation through the Camp Mak-A-Dream Web site at www.campdream.org or the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, either online or by mail at 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10122.

St. Johns Family Funeral Home, St. Augustine, is in charge of arrangements.