Diana Marie Fitzsimmons' Obituary
Diana Marie Fitzsimmons, a lifelong resident of Hayward, California for over 60 years, went to be with our Lord the morning of May 23, 2026, at the age of 92 years old.
Diana was the 3rd child born to Augusta and Alfred Jesus - Jason in Oakland, California on April 9, 1934. Unfortunately, her mother passed away when she was 3 years old. Her father remarried Virginia Jason, who raised her as well as her siblings, as her own. That became the blended family of 2 more beloved sisters.
Diana attended San Leandro High and then went on to cosmetology school at Oakland Community College, which lead to her becoming a licensed cosmetologist. She had attended cosmetology classes with my father’s sister, Patricia Judkins, who had also been a neighbor for years in San Lorenzo. Aunt Pat set them up on a blind date. My father Thomas George Fitzsimmons went to pick her up in his Army uniform and said, “the door opened and there was this pretty little thing in a red dress,” and he was in love.
On June 24, 1956, my mother married her one true love, Thomas George Fitzsimmons and they were married one month shy of 64 years. Together they raised 3 children, Shirley Jean Castillo (Div) of Sacramento, CA, Dawn Marie Froncek (Larry) of Hayward, CA, and William Herbert Fitzsimmons (Cathy) of Valley Springs, CA.
Diana was very involved in the PTA at John Muir and volunteered in the school library and was also an active member in Highland Baptist Church where Thomas was an assistant pastor. She loved crafts, and crocheted beautiful doilies, table clothes, bedspreads, Barbie clothes, baby clothes and blankets. She also sewed countless dresses and costumes throughout the years for her children and grandchildren. Diana took cake decorating classes, and created beautiful cakes for weddings, birthdays, communions, anniversaries, baby showers and many more events. Together with her family, she would make Christmas candies and cookies, while listening to Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”. Daddy loved to hear the laughter from the kitchen. Not a holiday went by that Diana, this beautiful mother and grandmother, was not preparing and hosting dinners where we could always make room for anyone who did not have somewhere to go. Most of all, Diana never hesitated to help family, neighbors, and friends when they were in need. She had a beautiful giving heart.
Diana loved her children more than anything, but also her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Grandchildren: Regina King, Lawrence Froncek, Jr., Daniel Froncek, Shawna Brown, Lisa Lee, Elizabeth Bumpus, Kayla Fitzhardt, and Sean Fitzsimmons. (8)
Great Grandchildren: Lacey Brown, Nathan Brown, Logan Brown, Louis Williams - Froncek, Colt Bumpus, Luke Bumpus, Nash Bumpus, Nora Lee, Emi Lee, Alysia Blake, James Saunders, Jr. (11).
Great Great Grandchildren: Thomas James Saunders, Isabella Saunders, Ashton Blake and Octavia Blake (just born in May). (4)
Diana is preceded in death by her husband Thomas George Fitzsimmons, mother Augusta Gouveia Jesus, father Alfred Jesus -Jason, Mother Virginia Jason, sister Lorraine Robinson (Robbie), brother Daniel Jason (Victoria), sister Jessie Beyelia (Michael, living), sister Mary Harris (Oscar), and daughter Shirley Castillo, as well as many other beloved in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Diana is survived by her daughter, Dawn Froncek and son, William Fitzsimmons, as well as many in-laws, cousins, nephews and friends. She will be dearly missed. We were a blended family made up from the tragedy of the loss of a mother and a father at young ages. Mom and Dad loved all equally, family was family and if you didn’t have a family, their hearts were always open to being part of ours.
When we all get to heaven, what a glorious day that will be.
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