Memorial for Fran Dilliard

Fran Dilliard died Sunday. She was 59 years old.

This Wildwood resident was a pioneer female broadcaster in the St. Louis market, having worked at Channel 9, Channel 5 and Channel 4 television stations. She also served as a local business agent for the I.B.E.W. Local 4.

She was the wife of Vincent Lena. She was the daughter of Robert and Winifred Dilliard (nee Sawyer). She was sister to Terry (Beverly) and Kevin (Julie) Dilliard. She was the aunt of Holly (Paul) Hamby, Abby (Aaron) Dirksmeyer, Kaitlin and Erin Dilliard, and great-aunt of Alec and Alexia Hamby and Landon and Kerrigan Dirksmeyer. She was the cousin of Joyce (Evert) Lehman, Martha and Marilyn Morrow, Janice Cornell and Amy Matthews. She was the sister-in-law of John (Ann) Lena. She was step-mother of Kelly (Bill) Stewart, Kathy Elliott and Julie (Ryan) Lally, and step-grandmother of Taylor, Nick and Joe Stewart, Aubrey and Connor Elliott, Cameron, Evan and the late Madison Lally. She was step-aunt of Jay and Rob (Carol) Lena.

She was dear friends with Judy and Phyllis Leventhal.

She loved her little dog, Chloe.  

A memorial visitation will be held from 1-6 p.m. Thursday at the Schrader Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road at Holloway in Ballwin.

If desired, contributions may be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure or The Madison Foundation, 1043 Johanna Dr., Ballwin, MO 63021.

Friends may sign the family’s online guestbook.