Diana Frechette

Diana Therese (Jaeger) Frechette, 82, of Sequim, WA, formerly of Clarkston and Berkley, MI, passed away Saturday, December 28, 2024. She was born November 28, 1942 to Bernard and Edna (Bonnard) Jaeger, the fourth of five children.
Diana spent many summers on Lake Huron in Rogers City, Michigan, with her grandmother and a brother, going to movies and exploring the world. Her mother passed away tragically when she was just twelve, and this was a defining moment in her life. Her commitment to her faith in God would provide the strength she needed to persevere.
As a teenager she was a mother figure for her nephews and younger brother, often forgoing activities that a typical child would have the opportunity to experience. She would clean, iron, and babysit to help earn extra income for the family. She was a role model of kindness, patience, and forgiveness for her nephews and the students she taught in her catechism classes.
Diana inherited her gift of music from her mother who played the piano at the silent movie theaters and dinner clubs. Diana could sit at the piano and play a tune by ear. She enjoyed singing and was a member of the choir at The National Shrine of the Little Flower. This is where she eventually met her husband, Paul. They married in 1969 and started their family in Berkley, Michigan. They eventually moved to Clarkston, Michigan, and spent many summers as a family hanging out at the cabin in Harrison.
She attended college at St. Mary's Orchard Lake, and served as a director of religious education at several parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit. She was excited about her faith and that inspired her students. She knew that teaching the faith wasn't just about instructing children from a book. It was serving the whole family. In her compassionate heart, she learned more about the stages of death and dying to better counsel and support those who were grieving. She went to Al-Anon meetings to better understand addictions and how families could best support their loved ones. She listened intently to parents and to the littlest members of the family. They knew they had someone who would guide them, and do so with fervor and joy.
Diana would open her heart and arms to others, making them feel part of her family. This included friends she met on the street, church members, or coworkers at the grocery store. She had a magical way of bringing a smile to anyone's face; her positive demeanor and laughter were contagious. She exhibited grace under pressure. She visited those in prison, and went out of her way to be kind to all individuals, making them feel important. She could relate to people on a deeper level, and they knew they had a safe person to honestly speak with, without being judged.
She faced challenges head on. When she experienced her own significant health issues, through sheer determination she changed many life habits so she could have the best outcome possible. She persisted with this through her last years. When it was apparent that she could do no more to change a situation, she was often heard saying, "This too shall come to pass." With faith, she knew that better days would come.
Diana was always an active part in her children and grandchildren's lives, celebrating each milestone no matter how far she had to travel. She wasn't afraid to get on the floor, at their level, and follow their lead. She had an amazing imagination and encouraged creativity, transforming ordinary events into extraordinary games. Hikes turned into adventures of discovery. A game of cops and robbers was turned into a story of missionaries trapping across Canada. She sang, rocked, read books, played songs, cuddled, held grandchildren high on her shoulders, and never made one feel bad when life got messy.
In her retirement years, she and Paul moved to Sequim, Washington, to live their dreams amidst the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. They loved seeing the mountains in all their splendor, watching the wildlife, and walking to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They were active in music ministry at their church, St. Joseph's, and sang with the Peninsula Singers. She kept her positive outlook and said it was always sunny in Sequim. She dealt with grief and sorrow by calling to mind God's blessings and finding ways to make others laugh.
Diana truly embodied the gospel's message of love. She touched so many lives, and that impact will never be erased.
Diana is survived by her husband of 55 years, Paul; children Anthony (Robin) Frechette, Clare (David) Brook, and Rita (Mark) Chebowski; grandchildren Alexander and Anna Chebowski; sister-in-law Cynthia Jaeger; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Della, Bernard, Kenneth, and Leonard.
Visitation will be on January 2, 2025 from 2-4 PM at Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel, 108 W Alder St, Sequim, WA 98382.
Funeral Mass to be celebrated on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 1:00 pm at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church. 2252 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit, Michigan at cskdetroit.org.
Sequim Valley Chapel is honored to serve the family. Please visit sequimvalleychapel.com to leave cherished memories for the family.