Diane B. Commes

Diane Commes, (nee Bartlett), 81, a beloved wife, devoted mother and doting Mimi inhaled her last breath on earth and then exhaled mightily in her Savior’s arms on April 16, 2024.   Born in Berwyn, Illinois on October 29, 1942, she was raised in Montgomery, IL where she lived above her parents’ grocery store until they moved across town to Aurora, IL just before her Senior year at West Aurora High School. This fortuitous move, while initially protested by Diane, landed her on Lebanon Street, where she met “the boy next door”, love of her life, and husband for nearly 59 years, Thomas Allen Commes.  

Diane received a degree in Elementary Education in 1964 from Illinois State University, where she laid the foundation for a lifetime of teaching and pouring into the lives of others.  Married to Tom in 1965, they moved to Minneapolis, MN where she taught first grade and eventually gave birth to two daughters, Jennifer and Elizabeth.  The family made moves to Barrington, IL and New Canaan, CT before finally planting in Moreland Hills, OH in 1979. Diane immersed herself in her community. She helped establish the Chagrin Valley Special Olympics, served as President of the Moreland Hills Women’s Committee, and was elected a Councilwoman in Moreland Hills, where she was the Head of the Public Safety Committee.  

She was a passionate sports fan, cheering for the Cleveland Guardians, Cavaliers and Browns, University School Baseball, Hathaway Brown Lacrosse, and all University of Michigan sports…Go Blue!  A lover of pets, one could always find her with a dog at her side or a cat on her lap. She was an avid gardener who reveled in the glory of God’s creation every season, most especially Spring, when pansies are planted, tulips burst forth from their winter beds and Dogwoods and Redbuds blossom in splendor.  She was an accomplished home chef, willing to try new recipes and serve them on a perfect tablescape to friends and family with her signature radiant smile.  Her life’s greatest passion, however, was her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. She humbly served the Lord in a variety of ways, most notably as a discussion leader and bible teacher in Bible Study Fellowship for 27 years.  The lives she touched through her encouragement, faithful prayers and upbeat attitude are too numerous to comprehend. 

Diane is survived by her loving husband, Thomas A. Commes; daughter, Jennifer Suzanne Commes; and daughter Elizabeth Commes Faremouth (Michael J. Faremouth); Her two grandchildren, David Thomas Faremouth and Faith Ann Faremouth were the apples of her eye, who she loved a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leroy Jonathan Bartlett and Ruth Shetler Bartlett; and sister, Shirley Bartlett Tibbitts.  

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on May 3, 2024 with a luncheon immediately to follow at Parkside Church 7100 Pettibone Rd., in Chagrin Falls, OH. In remembrance of Diane, whose vibrant spirit illuminated the lives of all who knew her, we kindly request attendees to honor her memory by wearing brightly colored clothing to the service. Let us celebrate her life with the same joy and vibrancy that she brought to ours. 

The family prefers that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Diane's name are made to: Bible Study Fellowship International, 19001 Huebner Road San Antonio, TX USA 78258, or online at: bsfinternational.org/support/memorials-and-honorarium; or Parkside Church, 7100 Pettibone Road Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 or online at: parksidechurch.com/learn/give-online/. 

For those who cannot attend, this memorial service will be livestreamed from Parkside Church online: https://www.parksidechurch.com/.