Diane Joy Rademacher

Diane Joy Rademacher of Neptune, New Jersey died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving husband and sons, on Wednesday April 10, 2019. She was 68. Diane was born October 9, 1950 in New Brunswick, New Jersey where she grew up with her parents and her two sisters. Diane graduated from New Brunswick High School in 1968 and she worked at Metro Electric until she married her high school sweetheart George Rademacher in 1971. They lived in Milltown, New Jersey and soon after marrying they began their family. Diane's vocations were always to be a wife and a mother and she was thrilled at becoming a grandmother later in life. Diane loved her life and she would tell anyone that her family and her home were her pride and joy. Diane's greatest happiness came from spending time with her family and she devoted herself to filling her boys' lives with loving and precious memories. In the same way she filled her family with love, Diane filled her home with the treasures of her lifetime. Those of you who know Diane know that she was a collector of a great many things… colored glass, tea pots, pretty plates, vintage glassware, miniature ceramic animals and knick knacks in every shape and size. Diane spent countless happy hours with her husband searching thrift stores, garage sales, antique stores and bazaars hoping each time to find some perfect little treasure. Diane's love of collecting was famous among her family and friends and few things could bring a wider or faster smile then finding a "score" in her travels. The many treasures that were found and cherished by Diane were always on display in her home and she would routinely decorate and arrange them (and then redecorate and rearrange them) to align with each passing season and each holiday as she made her way through life. Perhaps some of the best treasures Diane found were pieces of blue sea glass discovered when combing the beach which was one of her favorite things to do. Each piece had to be inspected to make sure it was sufficiently worn down by the sand and waves so that they were no longer shiny or sharp. Diane probably found and returned more pieces of sea glass back to the sea than she took home but it was the finding them and not the keeping them that brought her joy. Diane was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer on March 27 2014 at which time she was also given a grim prognosis of possibly having only a few months to live. However, Diane did not just take this news as something that would come to pass and she was determined to spend whatever time she did have living her life for as long as she could, sharing as much time as possible with her family making more wonderful memories. Forever the optimist, Diane made the choice each day to remain positive and to continue to believe that good things would fill her life. She started everyday with a cup of coffee and a book and she loved taking time to enjoy this peaceful ritual throughout her life. Diane always had a smile ready for you whether you knew her or not. No one was quicker than Diane to offer a word of encouragement, to lend an ear and listen, or to lend a helping hand in any way she could. During her battle with cancer, Diane met many caring, compassionate and dedicated people who together helped to make her illness bearable. From the moment of her diagnosis, Diane's husband George was her selfless and full time caregiver and he devoted every minute trying to ensure the highest standard of comfort and care for her. George was at Diane's side every step of way loving, caring, advocating, and researching anything he could to make Diane's life as good as possible. In Diane's own words… "Cancer is a scary word and can be a deadly adversary. From the moment I was diagnosed, my first question was "What can I do?" I was ready to fight for my life and I fought every day without fail as hard as I could. The angels I met along the way carried me when I couldn't walk. I want to thank everyone - the doctors, nurses, office workers and technicians. I want to thank my family - my sons and grandsons whom I live for. But most especially I want to thank my husband George… George you devoted yourself so completely to my comfort and care and I could not have done this without you and your love. You made this all bearable and I love you. One thing I would like to leave my family with is this - never give up hope. Each day holds something special even if it's only as tiny as seeing a snowflake, or seeing a loved ones face or even just sunshine. Each day is a gift given to you." Diane was predeceased by her son Mark Rademacher; her parents Beatrice Harris Higgins & Vernon Higgins; her parents-in-law George Rademacher & Marie Rademacher Strutt; and her sister Barbara Bartunek. Diane is survived by her husband George (Neptune, NJ) and her sons Michael (Asbury Park, NJ), Matthew and Joshua; Matthew's wife Dana Becker and his sons Henry and Oliver (all of Philadelphia, PA); her sister Gail Krzaczkowski and her husband Joe (Milltown, NJ); her aunt Jean Drella (Somerset, NJ), and her in-laws Ann Marie & Art Simons (Milltown, NJ), Margaret & Joel Baughman (Telford, TN); Thomas Rademacher (Sarasota, FL) and Robert & Kathy Rademacher (Milltown, NJ). Diane is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Diane was a communicant of the Church of St. Rose in Belmar. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, April 16th, 10:30 am, at the Church of St. Rose, 603 7th Avenue, Belmar. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery in New Brunswick. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation. Donations can be made online by going to www.lustgarten.org & clicking on donate, which is located on the upper right hand side of the page. Donations can also me made over the phone at 1-866-789-1000. If making a donation by mailing in a check, see address below. Please ensure to indicate that donations are made in honor or memory of Diane. The Lustgarten Foundation 415 Crossways Park Drive, Suite D Woodbury, NY 11797 Funeral arrangements are entrusted to The Crabiel Home for Funerals, Milltown, NJ. You may sign the obituary "guestbook" at www.crabiel.com