Shirley M. Dyal

Shirley M. Dyal, a deeply beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away
peacefully on December 11, 2025.
Shirley was born in the village of Grove, Guyana, to her devoted parents, Bephia (née Dookran)
and Christopher Raghubar. From an early age, Shirley's life was marked by a strong devotion to
family, tenacity and perseverance, and faith in God-qualities that became her lifelong legacy.
In Guyana, in addition to raising her family, Shirley grew into a successful business owner. Yet,
in 1982, she uprooted her life to move to the United States in search of greater opportunities for
her and her children. After laying down deep roots in Somerset, New Jersey, she later resided in
retirement communities in Totowa and Paterson, where she became a source of faith,
compassion, generosity to all who knew her.
Faith was a constant foundation of Shirley's life. Her compassion extended far beyond her
church-at a young age she prepared and served orphans at St Ann's Orphanage and offered
words of support and guidance to those struggling. As a Mother Host, she opened her home and
heart to young girls during retreats, offering them guidance and comfort. A devoted and beloved
parishioner of St. Matthias Church in Somerset, she continued to live her faith through service.
Shirley's gentle spirit and kind smile left an unforgettable impression on everyone she met. She
had a rare gift for making people feel seen, valued, and loved. Her family, church community,
and countless friends will remember her as a woman whose kindness knew no bounds.
She leaves behind her loving children: Sarojini Dolbec; Indira Dominguez and her husband,
Paul; Narendra Dyal; David "Ravi" Dyal and his wife, Naleena; and Nivedita DiPetrillo and her
husband, David. She was a devoted and proud grandmother to Andrea and Sean Dolbec; Max
and Danielle Dyal; and Ethan, Connor, and Liam DiPetrillo. She is also survived by her dear
siblings: Maurice, Lloyd, Francis, Bonnie, Peter, Benedict, and Joseph Raghubar; Juliet Persaud;
and Therese Singh. Shirley was predeceased by her beloved son Shashi Dyal, cherished
grandson, Ryan Dolbec; her son-in-law Mario Dolbec, her sister, Bernice Jegroo, and her brother
Bernard Raghubar.
Family and friends are invited to honor and celebrate Shirley's life at Paul Ippolito Summit
Memorial, 7 Summit Ave., Summit, NJ, on Friday, December 19th, from 5:00–9:00 PM with a
celebration of life from 7:00-8:30PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 AM on
Saturday, December 20th, at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 306 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ. Burial
will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Shirley's memory may be made to St. Joseph's Rest Home, 46–
52 Preakness Ave., Paterson, NJ 07522, honoring her lifelong commitment to compassion and
service.