Diane Inez Atwood – Defrati
July 30, 1948 – June 13, 2008
Diane Defrati, 59, the wife of Roger Defrati from La Mesa, California passed from this life on June 13, 2008 at 2:30 am from her long bout with cancer. She is survived by her daughter, Denise Lynn and her grandson Jack from La Mesa in San Diego, California. She is also survived by her sister Dale Jean Hiatt from McKinley, Texas and her brothers David L. Rawson in Tacoma, Washington and DR Rawson in Garden Grove, California.
Diane was the co-owner of the popular nightclub, Diamond-Jim’s in Chula Vista until she retired in 2003. A 6’2” blond, Diane was well known in the community and was an organizer for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in memory of A.J. her first grandson from her daughter, Denise. He died of SIDS while only a few months old.
She will be remembered for her generosity, fun nature and infectious laugh. She will be greatly missed by all.
Tonight I visited my Sister in a hospice. On the way she suffered a stoke that only serves to increase the problems she having staying alive for even one more day. She been suffering with Cancer for just over a year.
Diane is a striking 6′2″ woman with amazing blonde hair and blue eyes. When she enters a room, all heads turn. Her personality, confidence and poise are always noticed by everyone except my Sister. She rarely met a stranger. Everyone became her friend and she seldom missed remembering the name of someone from years back. My Sister’s life didn’t start easy and it certainly isn’t finishing that way. She didn’t discover, until late in life that she had a real head for business and was able to fully retire with the man of her dreams, Roger at age 52.
My Sister next birthday is on the 30th of July. She’ll be sixty. She was 58 in the picture above.
Cancer is how our Mother died as well at the ripe old age of 44. We lost our Father two years earlier at age 42. The next year Diane developed ovarian cancer and beat that at age 21. She’s always been a survivor. She’s a fighter. Someone whose loved life and the people around her.
Someday we’ll beat cancer for good. It will no longer take our loved ones. The very threat of it will no longer hang over our heads. Until then, we must fight, we must live and we must be an example to others. The greatest take-away from seeing her tonight is this: All the trips, all the people and all the money in the world mean nothing. The way to live life is to be in the moment. Enjoy each moment to the fullest. The people, the mood, your feelings, their feelings and all that goes with this very moment.
Live each moment as though it were the last moment you’ll ever know in this life.
I love my Sister. She’s an inspiration and a hero to me.
Thanks for reading this.
DR
Husband, Father, Grandfather, Son, Brother, Uncle, 32 Degree, K.C.C.H. Mason, Serial Entrepreneur, Chairman & CEO, Leader, Speaker, Philanthropist, Veteran, and Friend.
A successful entrepreneur with 23 companies to his credit, Mr. Rawson is focused on solutions that provide sustainable answers to domestic and global issues. 
