Disease defeated musician's body, but not her optimism

Dawn Kittrell could tease beautiful music from the strings of her violin. She also plucked the heartstrings of those who knew her, even briefly.

She passed away the evening of Nov. 27 at Anne Arundel Medical Center, ringed by her parents and friends. Her boyfriend David Nelson, a brain cancer survivor, flew in from New York, where he works, to be at her bedside. Her octogenarian grandmother also visited.

Several musician friends assembled with their instruments at the foot of her bed and lovingly serenaded the petite figure for more than a half-hour. Everyone held hands around her bed in the oncology department and prayed as...