Diane Lykes

Diane Taylor Lykes, 77 of Collegeville, PA, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Columbia Cottage. Born in Neptune, NJ, Diane raised her family in Manalapan before moving to Pennsylvania 4 years ago. Diane devoted her life to caring for others especially through her work as a teacher in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District, where she inspired countless students with her patience, warmth and creativity. Her love for learning and her compassion for people shone through in everything she did. She was predeceased by her parents Elbert and Amy Taylor and her husband Harold "Joe" Lykes. Diane's memory will be cherished by her children Stephen (Jennifer) Lykes, Thomas Lykes and Jaime Lykes; her brothers William (Cathy) Taylor and Glen Taylor and her beloved 7 grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to attend her visitation on Friday, November 7, 2025 from 4:00-8:00pm at the Freeman Funeral Home, 47 East Main Street, Freehold, NJ. A funeral service will be 10:00am on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Old Tennent Cemetery, Manalapan, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to The Woodbridge Animal Group at www.woodbridgeanimalgroup.com or Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org. To share memories, find directions or offer condolences, please visit www.freemanfuneralhomes.com.