Obituary of Erin N Dawson

Erin N Dawson, 29, of Peabody, died early Friday morning at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a courageous four year battle with brain cancer and a lifetime living with Neurofibromatosis (NF). Born in Salem, she was the daughter of Thomas J Dawson and Patricia Mahoney-Diefenbach, both of Peabody. She was a life long resident of Peabody and a 2005 graduate of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School. Erin received her associate’s degree in 2008 at North Shore Community College and in 2010 she received her bachelors’ degree in Criminal Justice from Laselle College. Erin then became the first female Security Officer at Endicott College in Beverly. She dearly loved working with people and enjoyed this service for nearly two years before illness and treatment made it impossible. Although diagnosed with terminal, Stage 4 cancer, Erin continued to pursue all of her passions, such as travel, animals and her many nieces and nephews. She swam with dolphins in the Bahamas with her mother Patricia, enjoyed a Florida trip with boyfriend Mike, parachuted with her cousin Jared, ziplined with cousins Rachel and Daniel, went to San Francisco with her father Thomas and Step-Mom Claire and lived and loved life to the fullest. Erin was passionate about many things including anything to do with animal welfare, those less fortunate, the Bruins and Taylor Swift. Smart, funny and lovely, our beloved Erin was given every gift but time. Her prognosis in 2012 was only 15 months but she made it last 44 and filled each one. Today we are heartbroken but we are richer for having been her family and we place our faith in God that we will be reunited beyond cancer, beyond death. She left us wanting more. Erin is survived by her father Thomas J Dawson and his wife Claire of Peabody, her mother, Patricia Mahoney-Diefenbach and her husband Paul Diefenbach of Peabody, her brother TJ Dawson of Peabody, her step brothers, Paul and his wife Tara Diefenbach of Peabody, Michael Diefenbach of Los Angeles, CA, and Scott Diefenbach of Peabody, her grandparents, William and Joan Mahoney of Beverly and is also survived by her boyfriend Michael Farricy of Reading. She leaves many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins who loved her. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Thomas and Natalie Dawson. Her dog Zach was her constant companion throughout her illness. Her Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St. Peabody. Family and friends are asked to gather at 4:00 PM followed by services at 4:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to a charity of one’s choice. Erin’s favorites were charities for NF, Progeria, MSPCA and cancer research in general and her church, the Branch Church of Peabody. Burial will be private.