Diane Claire (Deubner) Comfort died Wednesday morning, May 22nd in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Diane was 84. Diane was born February 26th, 1940 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan to Howard Deubner and Wanda Ferszt.

Diane spent her formative years in the Detroit area and attended Grosse Pointe High School. She then matriculated to Albion College and ultimately graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor with a degree in elementary education.

After graduation, Diane met and married her late husband Dave Comfort in northern Michigan. But, it was in Detroit that Diane and Dave began to carve out their future plans. Diane taught 4th grade in the Detroit area for four years before deciding to raise a family.

Diane and Dave moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in the early 1970s and this became their beloved home for over 50 years. Diane served the community in both philanthropic and church related roles. Diane and Dave were long time members of Eastminster Presbyterian Church where Diane served as a deacon for many years. She also loved her Eastminister spiritual circle groups in which she was still an active member. Diane also volunteered her time tutoring students at the SLD center in Grand Rapids helping students learn to read. These experiences rewarded Diane with a strong dedication to volunteerism and its importance in maintaining a healthy society.

Diane had many passions. Diane and Dave were avid travelers and visited every state in the union, including Alaska and Hawaii. In addition, Diane loved to sew. She not only created clothing for herself for decades, but for her young grandchildren as well. Diane was active in many sewing circles and was always trading ideas and techniques with other seamstresses. Diane also was a true patron of the arts and was able to fully enjoy the vibrant Grand Rapids art scene through the symphony, theater, and pops concerts. Furthermore, Diane was an avid reader. Diane's zeal to learn more about the world and the people who made it special filled her reading library with hundreds of books. In addition, Diane was very active in two separate book groups and loved the discussion with her friends as much as the knowledge she gained from preparing. Diane loved people, loved learning about their lives, and loved to ask questions. It's how she would want to be remembered.

Diane is survived by her son Andrew Comfort (Jones) and her daughter Rebekah Carpenter (Greg). She is also survived by his six grandchildren: Sam & Claire Comfort, Kate and Quinn Logee, and Ivy and Eli Carpenter.

A small, family graveside memorial will be held in Alden, Michigan where both Diane and her late husband Dave will be laid to rest beside each other.

Memorial donations may be made to the Northwestern Memorial Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, either online or sent to 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Suite 800, Chicago, Illinois, 60611.