Sabina Dewit

Sabina Hannelore Dewit expressed child-like exuberance for all things she considered beautiful: a gorgeous landscape, varying shades of light on the ocean, and most of all, lovely colorful gardens in bloom. Most recently she was well-known for her remarkable floral arrangements. She expressed her love and creativity through personalized designs for every occasion. A friend’s birthday whose favorite flower was a Golden Lace Rose? Sabina’s homemade arrangement would boast at least a dozen. From garden teas at the Tor House where she was a volunteer docent, to post-theater receptions with thespian friends, her contributions were always well-loved and adored.

Sabina had incredible creative talents and a generous spirit with all whom she considered a friend. She nurtured her creativity by earning her AA from Long Beach City College before moving to the Bay Area in the early 1970’s. She played the guitar and sang, was an incredibly animated story-teller, and facilitated creative activities with children during her career as a preschool teacher. Shortly after the Dewit family relocated to the Monterey Peninsula in 1975, Sabina opted to pursue her love of flowers. After graduating from a floral design program at Cal Poly, she proceeded to work at a variety of Peninsula floral shops through the ensuing years.

Sabina was born in Lu[a]beck, Germany on May 30, 1944. She came to the U.S. at the age of 13 with her mother and brother. Shortly after graduating from Dorsey High School in L.A., she met and married her true love, John Able Dewit, in November 1964. Sabina and John’s adventures together included raising their daughter Kim, traveling abroad, and an impressive 49 years of marriage. Sabina and John usually planned their travel adventures to include visits with extended family. Sabina especially liked visiting Europe, and she and John even went to see their daughter while she served with the Peace Corps in Central America.

As her husbands’ health began to fail, she faithfully and dutifully kept her promise to care for him “till death do they part”. Struggling with her own health issues, including surviving cancer, she was his principal caregiver for over five years until he passed away at home in May, 2013. Recently, Sabina had expressed to a close friend that she felt her role as a wife and mother were her greatest accomplishments in her life.

On August 12 she suffered a stroke which left her hospitalized. She passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, August 24, 2014. Sabina is survived by her daughter, Kimberly DeWit, her son-in-law Brad Detamore, her brother, Hans Korfin, and her sister-in-law, Kathleen Jeckot. A Celebration of Sabina’s Life will be held from 4-6:30 pm on Monday, September 8, 2014 at the Bernardus Lodge Rose Garden in Carmel Valley.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Papillon Center for Loss & Transition or Breastcancer.org