family profiles
PHOTOs BY Sarah Conard
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Tokens of Tradition
n the 56-year history of the Fleur de Lis Charity Ball, family traditions have become a defining feature of the event, second only to its primary mission of raising funds for pediatric medical research. As a token of their families’ longstanding history with the Fleur de Lis, many of the girls presented at this year’s ball wore mementos from years gone by. Among those is Paige Sauerburger, who wore a dress that debuted at the ball in 1977. Originally worn by Paige’s mother, Patricia, the gown also was worn by Patricia’s sister Maryanne in 1978, and by Patricia’s elder daughter Kara in 2008. “It’s beautiful and timeless,” Patricia Sauerburger says of the dress, which she bought at Neiman Marcus. “The bodice is sequined, and there are beaded straps with a bow on the back that trails down.” Two more legacy items were carried by Giulietta Brunetti. The first, a beaded turn-of-the-century clutch, made its sixth appearance at the Fleur de Lis this year. It originally was carried by Giulietta’s grandmother, Patricia Dickmann-Sheehan, whose longstanding commitment to the ball dates back to 1979. “She held every position that there was to hold, and was also a ball president one special year,” says Giulietta’s mother, Dede Brunetti. Dede also carried her mother’s bag when she debuted, as did her three sisters. Giulietta is the first granddaughter to carry it. She also wore a locket carried by her mother, which is a legacy from the paternal side of the family, given to Dede by her grandmother when she walked. The meaning behind these tokens comes from their history, to be sure, but also from the larger meaning of the ball. “The Fleur de Lis is a wonderful chance to celebrate the young girls growing in their Catholic faith. It embodies them growing up and taking steps into adulthood,” explains Patricia Sauerburger. “It means something, and it’s a family celebration.” Having participated as both an honoree and now as a parent, she is grateful for the chance to take part in the event. “We enjoy it immensely, and the fact that it’s charitable makes it all the better. The ladies who run it do a wonderful job. It’s an immense undertaking, and it’s always a flawless night.” Brunetti adds, “Millions of dollars have been raised for pediatric research. The whole thing is about being able to give back to the community, and every dime from this beautiful ball goes back to Cardinal Glennon Hospital.” The hospital has a special place in the Brunetti family’s giving, because her younger brother was treated there as a young child. “He was born when I was a senior, and he was born with Down syndrome,” she recalls. “He contracted meningitis, and the doctors gave him a 5 percent chance to
By Lisa Watson
Maryanne Gallen, Pat Sauerburger, Paige Sauerburger, Kara Sauerburger, Pat Dino
Pam Travis, Dede Brunetti, Margi Dolan, Giulietta Brunetti, Patricia Dickmann-Sheehan, Trisha Schengber
live.” Brunetti’s mother insisted that he be taken to Cardinal Glennon; and today, he is a healthy 35-year-old. “Anything we can do for Cardinal
Glennon is out of gratitude for my little brother, because they took care of him when he had very little chance of survival.” {LadueNews.com} January 9, 2015
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