Carol Esther Thorlaksson Dowd

Dowd, Carol Esther Thorlaksson Our beloved Momo passed away on July 25, 2016 at the age of 93. Carol was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 4, 1923, the daughter of the Reverend Steingrimr Octavius Thorlaksson and Carolina Kristin Thomas Thorlaksson. Carol went to Kobe, Japan with her parents who were Lutheran missionaries there since 1916. Carol graduated from the Canadian Academy in Kobe in 1941. Along with her siblings, Anne Margrethe, S.O. Jr. (Tavi) and Erik, who have predeceased Carol, they had lifelong friendships from their time there. She hosted a reunion of Canadian Academy in St. Louis in 1998, 80 graduates from all over the world came and loved St.Louis. Her family came to San Fransisco in the fall of 1941 just before Pearl Harbor. Carol graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. During that time a dashing, young Special Agent for the F.B.I., Edward Dowd from St. Louis was stationed in California to surveil war spies and saboteurs and apparently co-eds from Berkeley. They married in 1945 and returned to St. Louis to live, where Edward practiced law. They were married over 60 years and had 8 children, 22 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren and 2 on the way. Carol always said she was the luckiest person in the world because all of her children lived in St. Louis. Carol is survived by Carol (Dr. Fred) Gaskin, Nancy (Peter) Lumaghi, Ed Jr. (Jill), Jim (Grace), Doug, Richard (Patti), Bill (Carla) and Peter; grandchildren Heather (Chris) Thompson, Caroline (Mark) LaVigne, Dr. Spencer (Jenny) Gaskin, Laura Lumaghi ( Michael) Bokerman, Alex (Tara) Lumaghi, and Edward III (Kate), Andrew (Shannon) and Jonathan (Carolyn) Dowd, Samantha and Emily Dowd, Lia Dowd (Michael) Shipley, Thor (Katie), Zach (Amy) and Clayton Dowd, Rachel, Margrethe, Daniel and Rebecca Dowd, Meaghan Dowd (Nick) Edwards, Meredith and Natalie Dowd and Julia Dowd. She made each and every one of us, as well as many others, feel special and loved! Carol loved The Farm in St. Clair, MO that she and Edward created together. Carol, Ed and family spent many Thanksgivings, New Years and Easters there and almost every weekend for 60 years. Carol has been an amazing presence in so many lives. She is already missed so very much. Carol was an active community volunteer. She delivered Meals on Wheels every week for over 35 years, delivering meals to seniors and becoming a friend to many. She was one of the first teachers for Springboard to Learning, a mentor for Girls Incorporated, a supporter of Dance St. Louis and Cardinal Glennon Hospital for Children and a member of Town and Country Speakers, the Wednesday Club, Women's Democratic Forum and St. Louis University Library Associates. In 2006, Carol received an Ageless Remarkable St.Louisans award from St. Andrews Resources for Seniors for her work in the community. Services: A Memorial Service will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes, 7148 Forsyth Blvd. 63105 on Tuesday, August 9 at 3:00 p.m. followed by a reception at St.Louis Country Club. A private burial service was held on July, 30. Carol requested that donations be made to Girls Incorporated, 3801 Nelson Drive, St. Louis, MO 63121.