Charlotte Dearien

Charlotte Susan Nicolai Dearien passed away peacefully at home in Dallas, Texas. She was born July 1, 1929, to Frank and Charlotte Urbahn Nicolai in Brooklyn, New York. Sue was baptized February 11, 1933, along with her sister Elaine, at the English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in St. Albans. Her confirmation was at the same church on March 29, 1942. After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School in 1947, Sue attended the Katherine Gibbs School in Manhattan.
While on a trip to Washington D.C., she met her future husband, James N. Dearien. They were married on January 19, 1948 at the Bolling Field Chapel in the District of Columbia. Over the next 12 years, Sue faithfully followed her husband from base to base, state to state, while he served in two wars. From Spokane, Washington to Topeka, Kansas, Houston and Harlingen, Texas, they ultimately settled in Dallas in 1960.
An accomplished pianist, Sue pursued her music degree from Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1964. She loved to play and sing for anyone at any time.
Along with her husband, Sue was a founder of The Chapel of the Cross, an independent low-church Episcopal parish, where she was a true and faithful servant.
During her final days, she made a statement to her family, "Live your life clean, sweet, right, and worthy, and live your life in the right way, and all actually love each other."
The family would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to the following individuals and entities that assisted the family in their efforts to care for our mother throughout the process: Dr. John Hollowell and Dr. Srini Potluri from the Legacy Heart Center, Dr. Khanh Hoang at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, the staff of The Forum at Park Lane, especially Neal, her physical therapist, the Griswold Home Care, and Faith Presbyterian Hospice.
Sue was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. She is survived by her daughter Susan Dearien Crouch and her husband Cray Crouch, MD, son Jim Dearien and his wife Julie, son Bill Dearien and his wife Mary, 8 grandchildren, Lt. Collier Crouch, USN, Christopher Crouch, Chase Crouch, Jessica Dearien, Jaclyn Dearien, Edward Dearien, Audrey Dearien, and Samuel Dearien. She is also survived by her brother Frank Nicolai and his wife Shirley, sisters Dorothy Nicolai and Elaine Armen and her husband Leslie as well as several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 2, 2014 at The Chapel of the Cross, 4333 Cole Avenue in Dallas. A private burial will take place prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Chapel of the Cross or St. Timothy's School, both located at 4333 Cole Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75205 or to a charity of your choice.