Dawn was born on March 14, 1953, in New Orleans, LA to June and Henry Nagele. After graduating from Archbishop Chapelle High School in 1971 she went on to study at The University of New Orleans where she graduated with a Bachelors in Elementary Education/ Special Education in 1974. Later she would go on to receive her Masters in Education in 2009 also from UNO.
Dawn started her career as a teacher at T.H. Harris & Roosevelt Middle Schools in Jefferson Parish Louisiana until starting her own family. Life took her to St Simon’s Island, GA where she was the Director of Education for St Williams Catholic Church until moving to Birmingham, AL where she served Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church as Social Director and as a Eucharistic Minister. Once her children were older, she returned to work as a personal trainer. Later she resumed teaching at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School in 2000. She then returned to Metairie, LA and taught at Waggaman Special School and J. D. Meisler Middle School.
In 2013 she was awarded Middle School Teacher of the Year for Jefferson Parish Public School System. Dawn was later honored for her service and professionalism to Jefferson Parrish by the New Orleans Saints where she was recognized on the field during a regular season game. Her love and kindness for others radiated through as an educator, daughter, sister, wife and mother.
Dawn was preceded in death by her mother June Norton Nagele (age 95), Grandmother Virginia Catalano Norton (age 101) and her father Henry Walther Nagele (age 86) all of Metairie, LA. She is survived by her children: Brett Nagele Curran (Sarah) of Oro Valley, AZ; Leslie Rene’ Curran Raley (Chris) of Birmingham, AL; Grandchildren Brynn Elizabeth Curran (13), William Fox Raley (12), Tessa Jane Curran (10), Seren Juliette Raley (8) & Henry Colt Raley (7); sisters: Pamela Nagele Biggs, Cynthia Nagele Johnson and Rhonda Nagele Lowenhaupt; and former husband Gary Curran.
Services will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church (5510 Double Oak Lane, Birmingham, Al 35242 on Wednesday November 29, 2023, at 2pm. Visitation 1pm. Ceremony at columbarium at OLV following mass service.
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