Custode, Dawn (formerly Bacsek)
Nov 10, 1964 - May 26, 2019

"A life well lived, no regrets"

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dawn, our fearless warrior, after a 2 plus year positive and gracious battle with cancer at the age of 54.

Loving wife to Jim Fairman, cherished daughter of Jan Custode (Karen McDougall Morris), sister to Michael (Helen Bagshaw) and aunt to Leo & Matthew. She will be greatly missed by her mother-in-law Pat Fairman, step daughters Rachel (Roy Kelley) and Michelle Fairman, and step-granddaughters River and Rain Kelley. She leaves behind many uncles, aunts, cousins and in-laws in the Langlois, Custode and Fairman families.

Predeceased by her mother, Rose Ann (nee Langlois) Custode, who was her biggest champion.

Cremation has taken place. At a future date, Dawn's ashes will be spread in the ocean, her life giving place of tranquility for sailing, diving, new cultures and adventures.

Dawn's family will receive family and friends from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street, Kitchener, 519-749-8467. A celebration of her life will follow at 11:00 a.m.

Special thanks to the exceptional care given by the Doctors, nursing staff and volunteers at the Grand River Cancer Centre and the Hospice of Waterloo Region. To all who reached out to Dawn on her very public journey, thank you for taking the time to brighten her days.

In lieu of flowers, donations would gratefully be accepted by The Hospice of Waterloo Region (cards available at the Funeral Home).

Please visit www.henrywalser.ca for Dawn's Celebration of life, and her public Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/dawn.custode) to read about her journey.

Dawn felt herself lucky in that she was given an "expiration date". She made the most of her time left and tried to make her journey a positive one; mostly for those around her, but also because she believed that "a negative mind will never give a positive life".

Dawn was an outgoing, gregarious and adventurous personality. Her life was full of her love of sailing, traveling , scuba diving, and adventure. In between Dawn worked as an Accountant to fund her next vacation. Not much changed with her cancer diagnosis, except that her adventures continued.

Dawn met her husband, Jim Fairman, at a time in her life when she could appreciate all that he had to offer, and she was lucky to bask in his love and wonderful care for over 12 years.

Dawn never regretted not being able to live to a ripe old age. She lived her life doing what she wanted, traveling when she could, and loving deeply and fully. No regrets.
Not true - her one regret was leaving behind family and friends. Don't mourn her passing - celebrate her life, laugh when you talk of her and your adventures together, and remember the good times.

Dawn wanted to thank everyone, online or in person who reached out to her during her journey with positivity and light. Especially her girls' posse who were always up for some adventure - Melody Eads, Dionne Boedeker, Bethany Winterson, Sandy Pacey, Sheryl Mathura, Karen Keszthelyi, and of course, her bestie forever, Cathy Kehoe Barton. You girls rocked her world, and made her journey easier.

Thanks also to Nicole Dove-Lewis, the volunteers and all of the friends that Dawn made at The Hospice of Waterloo Region Day Away program, the road she traveled was smoother because of all of you.