Dagny Diamond

Feb. 20, 1927 - Mar. 22, 2018

SOUTH BEND - Dagny Marie Diamond of South Bend died March 22, 2018 at Memorial Hospital.

Dagny was born February 20, 1927 to the late Rufus E. and Laura Marie (Johnson) Lenon in Mishawaka and grew up in River Park.

On June 17, 1950 Dagny and Arthur M. Diamond were married in the Broadway Evangelical United Brethern Church. Arthur died on April 15, 2000.

Survivors include their sons: Arthur M. Diamond, Jr., his wife Jeanette, and their daughter Jennifer of Omaha, Nebraska; David Andrew Diamond, his wife Carolyn of Omaha, their sons, Michael F. Diamond and his wife Monica of Coppell, Texas and their children, Kyle P. and Alexa Marie, and Daniel F. Diamond of Chicago; and Eric Lenon Diamond, his wife Cynthia and their daughters, Abigail Marie and Amelia Carol of South Bend; and a niece, Carol Ann Goodall of Mishawaka. Dagny's sister, Lois Goodall preceded her in death.

Dagny attended Nuner Elementary School, John Adams High School where she was valedictorian of the class of 1945, and Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame where she earned her degree cum laude in 1949.

For one year Dagny taught at Washington Clay High School, then elected to concentrate on her family until returning to serve as Director of Financial Aid at the Michiana College of Commerce. She was next recruited to serve as Assistant Director of Financial Aid at the University of Notre Dame. In 1982 she joined the family law firm as a Legal Assistant and continued to serve until 2010.

Volunteer activities were very important in Dagny's life. She served on the boards of AAUW and the Broadway Theatre League; served two terms as President of the James Monroe PTA and in 1967 joined the board of the Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County, which became her major volunteer focus. She served two terms as president of the Foundation. Dagny considered her chairmanship of the College Fair, first founded by the SBCSC under her initial Foundation effort, to be the high point of her membership.

Also included in her activities was as a volunteer with the Reach to Recovery project of the American Cancer Society. She was a member of the St. Joseph County Republican Party, the Jeeps, and the Golden Girls of John Adams.

Dagny and Arthur traveled to all 50 states and many foreign countries. They criss-crossed the country during his presidency of Toastmasters International, which was an incredible experience.

Dagny loved to read, travel, and root for the Notre Dame basketball team. She was a devoted student of the Forever Learning Institute.

Dagny wanted to acknowledge her love and gratitude to some of the people who shaped and enriched her life; her parents, husband, and their children, Art, Dave, and Eric; teachers, Florence Roell, John McNamara, and Dorothy Pate; mentors, Sister Kathryn Marie CSC, June McCauslin, and Col. Robert J. Engel; and friends, Suzanne Parker, Cynthia Henrich, Jane Severyn, Alice Eberhart, and Carol McDaniel.

Dagny was very grateful for the wonderful care she received as a resident of Sprenger Health Care of Mishawaka. She and her family were thankful for the kind and loving environment in which she lived with cherished aides and valued friends.

Friends may visit with the family from 4:00-7:00 pm Monday at Palmer Funeral Home River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN 46615. Private funeral services for Dagny will be held at Palmer Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in South Bend. Memorial contributions in honor of Dagny may be made to the Scholarship or donor's choice: Scholarship Foundation of St. Joseph County, 3515 N. Main St., Suite C, Mishawaka, IN 46545. Condolences may be given online at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

03/25/2018  JFC