John Anthony Dagounakis
John Anthony Dagounakis
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John Dagounakis Obituary
his wife at his side, January 24th, 2026. John was born in Athens, Greece September 26th, 1947.
He served three (3) years in the Greek Army before emigrating to the United States at the age
of 21. He settled in New York and raised his family. In 2009, John moved to Ocean Gate, New
Jersey where he enjoyed a beach life, loved cooking, and for a while owned an ice cream truck
with Diana. One of his proudest accomplishments happened September 12, 2014, when he
became a U.S. Citizen. John loved to cook and shared many Greek meals with friends and family
over the years.
John is survived by his daughters Maria Castagnozzi (Vincent) with grandson Vincent, Eva
Dagounakis and grandaughter Destiny Correa, Diona Martinez (Pedro) and grandaughter Kayla
along with many loved nieces and nephews. John is also survived by his wife, Diana Diehl-
Dagounakis and her family; parents Harry & Judy Anderson, son David Diehl (Laurin) Ryan and
Remi, and daughter Diana Lynn Diehl and her children. John was predeceased by his son,
Anthony Dagounakis.
John was a strong, loving Papou, father, son, uncle, husband and he will be missed deeply and
remembered always.
Arrangements are being handled by Ocean County Cremation Service, 1252 Route 37 West,
Toms River, New Jersey 08755.
Visitation: Saturday February 21st, 2026 from 1pm - 3pm
Funeral service will be led by Pastor Harry Anderson.
Immediately following the service, please join us in a celebration of life repast.
100 Fireside Blvd
Toms River NJ 08755
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to
The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation
SNP Foundation
PO Box 6899
Freehold, NJ 07728
John spent many love filled hours with his wife volunteering as one of Stephanie's Angels.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 12, 2026
BEST DAD EVER
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 12, 2026
BEST DAD RVER!!!
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 12, 2026
I am having coffee and thinking of you!!!!
Diona Martinez
February 10, 2026
Your all together now
Love you always my daddy-o
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Diona Martinez
February 9, 2026
I am missing you so much right now daddy-o. I just wanna hear your voice. I´m so afraid I´m gonna forget the sound of your voice. I miss you answering the phone saying "halllooo". I´m trying so hard to hold it together. Get up, go to work, cook, clean the house, be a wife, be a mom... at the end of the day when everything is said and done my heart hurts so bad. I feel so broken. This can´t be real. I´ve never pictured you not being here. You were the strongest man. I knew my very own superhero. I love you so much, daddy-o.
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 8, 2026
Hi Dad hope you are feeling good I miss you so much the nights hurt because I can´t call you kiss your face like I want to Change hurts sometimes I can´t hear you call me and Diana blah blah blah girls I want you to grab Tony hug him hard cause I can´t tell him I miss the poop out of him too Both my men´s taken so unfair Just know I love and miss you every single day Daddy Muah
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Daddy we love you
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
PAPOU it´s 8 pm so let me call you "Hi daddy how are you feeling and don´t tell me with your hands lol Do you have any pain no good I miss you hope to visit soon and when I do I´m gonna kiss your face all over!I love you so much dad btw you looking so HANDSOME I LOVE YOU DADDY! Okay daddy get some rest I´ll call you tomorrow I love you so much Goodnight
Eva
February 7, 2026
Kisses to you!
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Love you so much!
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
We all love you!
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Life is different now I can´t call you and that hurts so much I love you DADDY
Destint Correa
February 7, 2026
My Papou how much you were loved and always will be loved , you hurt alot with this one wish we had more time with you . You will be missed dearly and never forgotten you live through us all now. Till we meet again my sweet sweet angel
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
My dad was the strongest man in the world. But most importantly he was a family man that loved his children and his grand children with all his heart. His last few years were very difficult for me I called every night driving Diana crazy basically stalking him with love I will say watching him deteriorate was killing me but knowing Diana took such good care made the struggle a bit easier. Dad will never be forgotten always will be missed and his memories will stay alive ILOVE AND MISS YOU DADDY
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
I love you daddy kiss Tony and yourself
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Eva Dagounakis Daughter
February 7, 2026
Diana Diehl Dagounakis
February 7, 2026
J.
February 6, 2026
May God's promise found in John 6:40, of the hope to see our loved ones again, comfort your heart and give you peace, strength, and hope in the days ahead.May God's promise found in John 6:40, of the hope to see our loved ones again, comfort you.
Diona Martinez (Dagounakis)
February 6, 2026
My Daddy-O
Thinking about my childhood...
I was the baby, the youngest of four.
It´s safe to say the rules did not apply to me.
I was loved and spoiled by you. I could never do wrong. I got cuddles and got to go to sleep on your chest every night in those early years. We shared baby talk. Had nicknames. Phrases that only you and I shared. You let me climb all over you. I was your own personal little monkey (maïmoú). Times changed, I didn´t see you every day. We had holidays and summer vacation. Hanging out in the pool hall, BBQs, amusement parks & trips to the beach, even a 10 hour car ride to and from Canada (6 hours in customs was not fun). We shared a love for food. You were the most amazing cook. Spanakopita, moussaka, pastichio... making me Bougatsa. I loved hollandaise sauce and you would make it for me to put on whatever I didn´t wanna to eat. Random trips to city Island just to get softshell crabs. I wouldn´t trade these memories for the world. Years went by, so much of this never changed except you were no longer a train ride away. The one thing that never changed was the that I always saw the love in your eyes. You would light up when you saw my face or heard my voice. You would say, "hi my baby-mou."
What I wouldn´t give to relive one of these memories all over again... Hear your voice... listen to you breath...
I feel so broken! My heart is hurting.
You were my rock, my foundation, you taught me what it was to be loved!
You are and always will be my Daddy-o.
God, I miss you,
I will love always
Diona
Kouthicou Froggy
NOYS
Mary Weaver
February 6, 2026
My deepest and heartfelt sympathy to you,Diana , John´s life and joy , and to the whole family. Truly the world has lost a one of a kind light in John. John and I met in a very strange way.... Online... now no dating sight or anything. At tha time "chat rooms" were a big thing. My oldest son, Dimitri was in Crete,Greece and I was desperately seeking someone (outside of family) to keep an eye on my boy while he was so far away(he was still a teenager) then answered Yannis, John,hrisohoos,!! He had totally misunderstood the post...lol (as he was in NY at the time. I needed someone in Crete.. not FROM Crete) ) oh ... I am so happy that he misunderstood that post, as it enabled our paths to cross and, albeit long distance, a lovely friendship was created. Oh the way John´s eyes would sparkle especially when his orneriness would shine!! John and his precious son Tony, came all the way to west Chester Pa to visit us. What a visit! Full of laughter, good food, beautiful jewelry(iykyk!!), friendship and joy.
Diana, when you and John met..... my heart was soooooo happy for you both! He was so cute when he talked about you... the sparkle in his eyes and heart. Along with his beautiful children, and families.
I thank God for all of the beauty and love that surrounded John and for the joy that John gave... especially to me and my family.
I´ll see you later my friend...thank you for being you, dear John...... I don´t say goodbye....we´ll see you later sunshine.....
, .... rest eternally peaceful John
Diona Martinez (Dagounakis)
February 6, 2026
Diana Diehl Dagounakis
February 6, 2026
MAY 26TH 2024
Our Wedding Day,I'll treasure every moment . Everyone who shared our special day.We love you all
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1252 Route 37 W, Toms River, NJ 08755
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