Diane Merrall Dey, 95, of Atlantic Highlands, received her Angel Wings on Saturday evening, February 7th. She departed peacefully at home, in the presence of her loving daughter, Merrall, while the “Commendation of the Dying” was invoked by Father Hank Hilton.
Diane’s entrance to heaven was greeted with the overjoyed embrace of many friends and family members who preceded her in death.
Diane was born on October 11, 1930, Orange, NJ, to the late William and Janet Merrall.
Raised in South Orange, NJ, her passion for the beach grew exponentially while at the family’s summer house in Allenhurst and the Allenhurst Beach Club.
Diane’s formal education at Marylawn of the Oranges Academy was followed with matriculating at Georgetown Visitation (D.C.) which was, at the time, the oldest women’s catholic college in America.
Following her marriage to Dartmouth’s favorite son, E. William Dey, in 1952, she raised her four kids – Carroll, Kimmy, Billy, Merrall – in Rumson, NJ.
She found great satisfaction in organizing and running a daytime preschool playgroup for many years. She also believed in advocating for and supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hence, her many years with ARC. One of her most cherished memories with ARC was that of chaperoning a large group of young adults on a cruise to Bermuda. Most nights were recognized with laughter and dancing until 3 a.m. Judith Hilton was her favorite!
Diane’s salient feature was her beauty. This Queen of Social Intoxication loved a good party! Like her uncle, Norman Francis Carroll, holding court at the Princeton Club bar, she held court at Seabright Beach Club every summer, starting in 1962. SBC will never be the same.
Besides Seabright Beach Club, the Catholic Church was another second home. It offered stability, nourishing her soul and mind.
Diane is survived by her children, Carroll of Washington D.C.; Billy, his wife Stephanie of Walpole, NH; Merrall, her husband Rich Freund of West Long Branch. Surviving grandchildren: Pierson and Jack Dey; Delanie and Garrett Freund. Additional survivors include her nieces and nephews, Penny, Robin, Andrew, and Tom Dey; Jim Pope.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Kimberly Anne Dey – February 15th, 2016.
A Memorial Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 27th, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to Thompson Memorial Home of Red Bank, NJ.
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