Diane Rose Byars

BYARS, Diane Rose, age 81, of Fenton, passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family. A Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 600 N. Adelaide Street, Fenton. Fr. Robert Copeland will officiate. Visitation will take place from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Road, Fenton. On Wednesday morning, Diane will be taken to church to lie in state from 10:00 AM until the time of Mass. Those desiring may direct memorial contributions to the McLaren Hospice or the Disabled American Veterans.

Diane was born on October 2, 1942 in Detroit the daughter of the late Ernest and Marion (Ruby) Defrain. She graduated from Cody High School in Detroit, class of 1961. Diane was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas for many years and would volunteer a lot of time for festivals and working the lunches at the school. She was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Dearborn Heights Moose Lodge. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening, flowers and vegetables, and she was an avid reader. 

She is survived by her daughters, Marion Dmochowski and Kimberly (Christopher) Kenyon; grandchildren, Kayla (Jesse) McWilliams, William Kenyon and Crystal Kenyon; brother, Dennis Defrain; and several nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents, Diane was preceded in death by her loving aunt, Rose Ruby; first husband, Leonard Dmochowski; second husband, William Byars; and sister in-law, Carol Defrain. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com