BLOOMINGTON
Dagmara (Dace) Aina Meijers-Tröller died on February 22, 2018, at Bloomington’s IU Health Hospice House after a long illness. She was born on March 8, 1955, in Columbus, Indiana, one of eight children of Ruta and Talivaldis Meijers (immigrant refugees from Latvia). Dagmara attended Columbus schools until moving to Indianapolis and later to Bloomington, Indiana, for study at Indiana University.
In 1977, Dagmara moved to Paris, where she married, started a family, and fell in love with the light, food and beauty of the city. She continued studies at Pantheon-Sorbonne University, London Metropolitan University, Institute of Intercultural Management and Communication, and the French Society of Translators. She learned French and worked as a French to English freelance translator.
This career allowed the flexibility to hone her already outstanding cooking skills, which were evident even as a young teenager. Dagmara was a cook par excellence, and her family and friends always looked forward to her exquisite creations. In Paris, she took great delight in daily trips to various shops and markets to find the perfect ingredients, whether for the evening family meal or a grand dinner party.
Paris also provided an ideal setting to refine her flair for style and expand her appreciation of architecture. Since early childhood Dagmara displayed a keen interest and ability in art and continued to use her creative talents all her life. She was fascinated by the art and politics of fashion and always kept an open mind to the innovations of the day. All who knew her were touched by her discernment in dining, dress and lexicon.
As her son wrote recently, “Those of you who knew her also know how extremely smart, witty, compassionate, caring and good-hearted she was.” She closely followed world politics and was always concerned about helping the disadvantaged. She admired Doctors Without Borders and offered pro bono translation services when needed.
Eventually she reconnected with her Columbus junior high school sweetheart, Brent Waltermire. She and Brent lived in Paris and in Chicago together. In 2014, they relocated to Bloomington, Indiana.
Dagmara is survived by two children, Maija Tröller, of Paris, France, and Ludwig Tröller, of Berlin, Germany; her partner, Brent Waltermire of Bloomington; siblings, Karlis Meijers, Ilze Meijers, Maija Meijers, Anne Meijers and Valda Hillery; nephews, Varis, Ivars and Paul; and niece, Ellen. She was predeceased by her daughter, Alina Tröller; brothers, Eriks and Andris; and her parents.
A memorial service is tentatively scheduled for March 10, 2018 or March 17, 2018. Final details will be posted at IndianaGreenBurials.com, where memorial messages can also be left.
