Obituary of Diane C. Brush

Diane C. Brush, 70, of Howell Township passed away peacefully at home on Monday, June 26, 2023. Diane was born in Long Branch and raised in Tinton Falls.  She matriculated at Shephard University in West Virginia and received her bachelor’s degree in education.  Diane taught in that area until returning to New Jersey.  She then worked for Bell Laboratories, Holmdel as a technology assistant.  Diane met her husband, Gary, on a work ski trip.  They married and lived in Middletown.  Later they moved to Howell Township in the 1990’s. 

Her beautiful soprano voice could be heard in local theater productions. She had a passion for singing and was a former member of the Monmouth Conservatory of Music and the Shrewsbury Chorale.  She was an accomplished baker, receiving numerous blue ribbons at the Monmouth County Fair, yet she was better known for her tins of Christmas cookies.  This creative process would begin before Labor Day and stretch through the holiday season.  The recipients knew that they had to return the empty tins to get one the next Christmas, and the recipients obliged.  Diane was truly a homemaker.  She designed the family home from the architectural to the interior, which she graced with wall stenciling and beautiful needle points.   She enjoyed caring for and playing with her animal pets throughout her life. Yet nothing meant more to her than being a mother and a fierce advocate for her dear daughter, Emily, who was her shining light.  Her love knew no boundaries. 

Though life was not always easy for her, Diane was a woman of deep faith and had an abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. She was not afraid to die because she knew that she would be at home with her beloved Lord and Savior. Diane did not think of death as an end, but rather the beginning of a glorious new chapter.

Diane was predeceased by her parents, Darius and Emily Castellini and brother, Robert Castellini. She is survived by her husband, Gary; her daughter, Emily; her brother, Dr. John Castellini; two sisters-in-law; Dr. Lesley Castellini and Ruth Nehrbass; three nieces, Lauren, Erica and Alexandrea Castellini; nephew, Matthew Nehrbass and his wife, Snow; cousins, Dr. Lynne Kalustian, Guy O’Brien, and Beverly Pearson; grandnephew, Robin Castellini-Winner and his father, Adam Winner; and grandniece, Anabell Nehrbass.  Diane will be missed by her family and many dear friends.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM.  A memorial service will begin promptly at 2:30 PM with a musical interlude, followed by words of remembrance, then concluding with a musical tribute.  At 3:30 PM, Diane’s daughter, Emily, will present a tribute video of Diane’s life concluding at 4:00 PM. For those that cannot attend in person, the family invites you to participate via Webcast, HERE. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to: The Lakeview School in Edison NJ, 10A Oak Drive Edison, NJ 08837, InTouch Ministries, PO Box 7900 Atlanta, GA 30357, or Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.