In Memory

Kathryn Dian Fedak - Class Of 1967

Family-Placed Obituary

DIAN FEDAK Dian Fedak, of West Palm Beach and more recently St. Augustine, Florida, died May 9, 2009 at Flagler Hospital after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family. Born in Newport, Rhode Island, May 9, 1949, to Kathryn and Walter Fedak, Dian was an outstanding student and creative spirit. She was graduated from Riviera Beach High School in 1967, received her Bachelor of Arts from the Florida State University in 1971 and her Doctor of Jurisprudence with Honors from the Florida State University in 1981. After receiving her law degree, Dian worked for the Florida State Attorneys 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 those 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 of 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 ìheart,î 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), Bob (Cyndee) and her nieces, Michelle Curtin, Amanda Fedak, Liza Bunker, Alison Bunker, Sarah Fedak and Katie Fedak and 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, from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM 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 at Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, 14 Pennsylvania Plaza, Suite 1400, New York, NY 10122 St. Johns Family Funeral Home, St. Augustine, is in charge of arrangements. To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries