ADRIAN, Mich. — April 25 marks three years since Lenawee County woman Dee Ann Warner went missing. Her husband Dale Warner sits behind bars charged with her murder and her family is preparing for her funeral.
"We were all confused on what we should do," said Dee Warner's nephew Parker Hardy. "How do you do this without a body? It's still different then if somebody was lost in a boat accident or something where the body wasn't recovered. It's just a different feeling."
Dee Warner's death certificate was released just over two weeks ago, which is a finality the family says they needed. On Saturday, April 20, the family will be having a small ceremony at their family plot in Tipton, Michigan. Afterwards they will be holding a 'Celebration of Life' reception at their family farm for Dee's family, friends, and supporters.
"She's going to put right next to her mom and dad with an official gravestone. Her children's names will all be on there," said Hardy.
One name that won't be on there is Warner, as the family didn't want the name of her accused killer to be on the gravestone. Instead, Dee's gravestone will read, "Dee Ann, daughter of Raynor and Wanda Hardy".
"The longer she's gone, the more I miss her because I know now it's very final," said Shelley Hardy, Dee Warner's sister-in-law. "I never thought she was going to come back from the beginning but because you don't have a body or you can't see or imagine in your mind what's happened you have that feeling, like I said it's still not closure."
The family is asking for donations to Catherine Cobb, Safe House in lieu of flowers and hopes that her celebration of life will be a reminder of how she lived, not how she died.
"She was a vibrant personality and she always continue to be that in our hearts," said Hardy.
Dee's Celebration of Life will take place at Hardy Farms, at 10101 Wisner Highway in Tipton from 2:30 - 5 p.m.
For more information click Justice for Dee.
MORE FROM WTOL 11: