Livia’s Legacy, a true story, reads like a thrilling novel. It tells about a harrowing flight from Russian armies, an illicit border crossing into West Germany, a dangerous ocean voyage to Canada, and adapting to life in a new land. Several times in her life, Livia lost her home and most of her possessions and had to start all over. My mother, Livia, lost her first love, struggled in an unhappy marriage, and eventually, had to become the breadwinner of her family. During this time, she suffered from angina and, later, Parkinson’s disease. How she overcame tremendous problems will be an inspiration to all who read this book. Much of the information came from a memoir handwritten in German by Lydia, Livia’s sister. I knew that this story was worth passing on and added details from my own memory and imagination.
Dagmar, who was born in Poland, went through the harrowing experiences she describes in her book. She was educated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and taught there and in Teulon. After her marriage, she raised four children. Later, she supervised a private school. She has published magazine articles and poetry.