Dawn K. Dewaele

Dawn K. (Yoskowitz) Dewaele, 42, of Severn, Md., passed away on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, after a short illness. She was surrounded by her loving family and dearest friends.

Born in New Brunswick, Dawn attended schools in New Jersey and graduated from Rowan University, Class of 1991. Dawn was named assistant program director for the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in 1992. She later taught high school English in Maryland, Washington State and Florida. She became a full-time wife and mother at the birth of her twins. Most recently, she was employed as a thesis editor for graduate students attending the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

Dawn married Gregg Dewaele of Vineland in 1995. It was then, as a Navy wife, that she touched the lives of hundreds of people as she traveled with him to new duty stations.

Dawn was an excellent cook and loved the challenge of complicated recipes. She was well known for her brownies and her hummus. For her, cooking was a passion. Dawn was a person of many passions, including scrapbooking for all of her family, reading, keeping in touch with her friends across the globe and walking. One of her greatest personal achievements was completing a full marathon before the age of 40, a feat she accomplished six days prior to her birthday.

Dawn's greatest joy in life was her family. Leaving behind, with hearts full of sadness, are her husband, LCDR Gregg Dewaele of Severn, Md.; 6-year-old twins, Gehrig Charles and Addison Grace; father, Mark Roy; brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Julie Yoskowitz; sister/best friend and brother-in-law, Randi and Donald Spexarth; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gilbert and Ellen (Pat) Dewaele; brother-in-law and fiancé, Jamie Dewaele and Charlotte Kruse; nieces, Jessica and Carrie; nephews, Josh and Aaron; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Dawn was preceded in death by her mother, Anne, and her grandmother, Jennie.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday and again at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Singleton Funeral Home, 1 2nd Ave. SW, Glen Burnie, Md.

Family members will be sitting shiva at the home of Steven Yoskowitz, 14 Woodview Drive, Howell, on Thursday and Friday.

In memory of Dawn, and the incredible teacher and mother she was, the Dewaele family is asking everyone to please refrain from sending condolence gifts and flowers, and instead please make contributions to a college fund, supporting Addison and Gehrig. Anyone who knew Dawn understood that her world revolved around her children and we believe this is the best way we can remember her and carry on her legacy.