Obituary of Diane Chanin

Diane Chanin, nee Stark, passed away at the age of 95, peacefully at home in Livingston, New Jersey on April 16, 2021 surrounded by family. Diane was born on April 28,1925 in Brooklyn, New York and later moved to West Orange, New Jersey where she graduated from high school. Upon graduation, she worked in her father's 5&10 cent store in downtown West Orange. Diane was very artistic and creative. She was known for the beautiful holiday baskets that she designed to sell in the store and the storefront windows she decorated. Word spread quickly of Diane’s creativity, and she was hired to decorate other storefront windows in Essex County. In 1947, Diane married her husband David and they eventually moved to Livingston, New Jersey where they raised their three children. Diane was a working mother, but was always home to make dinner for her family, whom she loved more than anything. She was an outstanding cook and baker. Diane also had a life-long passion for the card game, Bridge, and was an expert player. In the summer of 1969, Diane’s family moved to Brick, New Jersey on the Metedeconk River. Her grandchildren would later enjoy spending time with her there. While in Brick, she worked for the town newspaper and was a bookkeeper for local businesses. Years after her husband passed away, she moved to the Four Seasons Senior Community in Lakewood, New Jersey. Diane worked at Larson Ford in Lakewood as a bookkeeper until her retirement. The last year and a half of her life, she moved back to Livingston where she first started her family. Diane is predeceased by her husband David; her parents, George and Bessie Stark; and her brother, Morton Stark. She leaves behind three children and their spouses, Steven Chanin and Maria of Newburyport, Massachusetts; Alan Chanin and Adrienne of Mendham, New Jersey and Cindy Mintz and Michael of Morganville, New Jersey; six grandchildren, Allison Gorbaty and husband Paul, Jaclyn Jaffe and husband Evan, Andrew Chanin and wife Sophie, David Chanin, Jason Mintz and Rachael Chanin; and five beautiful great granddaughters, Ashley and Savannah Jaffe, Haley and Emma Gorbaty, and Daphne Chanin. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, funeral services will be private. Donations can be made in Diane’s loving memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the ASPCA.