Obituary of Diane R. Benko
Diane R. Benko age 82 of South Plainfield, Wife, Mother, & Friend, passed away peacefully after fighting a valiant fight against ureter cancer on January 7, 2025, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerville, New Jersey.
Throughout her 82 years she approached every challenge with a smile even the scariest of situations like when she was diagnosed with cancer. Watching her face this new challenge was truly remarkable, and a true testament on who she was, a very strong, and tenacious woman until her peaceful passing.
Born on October 26, 1942, in Elizabeth, New Jersey to the late Raymond Edward Bayerlien, and Albina June Murawski.
Diane grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and attended Battin High School. At the time she was getting her education it was an all-girls school to which she graduated in 1960.
In 1961 while leaving a pizzeria in Roselle Park with a friend she waved to 2 passers by driving in 1948 Buick Roadmaster, thinking it was someone she knew. They waved back, turned around and stopped the car.
When they got out of the car Diane apologized and explained that she thought they were someone else she knew... With a chuckle.."Well, that's o.k. my name is Ron, and this is Harry would you ladies like to go listen to some records at my parents' house" ...They did, and little did they know that after 2 or 3 dates, Diane and Ron were on their way to a lifetime together.
They married on October 3, 1963, and this pass October they celebrated 61 years of marriage.
They lived for a short time in Roselle Park, before finding a home in South Plainfield, in 1963. The perfect place to raise a family.
Diane worked many places throughout her life, each one building on knowledge learned from the prior. Some of her special jobs were being a stay-at-home mom while doing all the bookkeeping and job schedules for her husband's carpet installation business
"R & R Carpet Installation".
Then when her children were old enough and more independent Diane returned to a professional office, she chose to return back to "Metuchen Builders Lumber Supply" in Metuchen, N.J. a location she worked before having children. She then took on an opportunity to step into a position as an assistant to the controller at "Thul's Automotive" in Plainfield, N.J.
Diane's dedication to her job and the 150 plus employees from all 7 store locations that the Thul's family owned meant she also became an "Office Mom" and Advisor to many of them.
Her Love and Compassion to Always give to those who needed help, or to be a listening ear, or offer guidance made her so valuable to "ALL WHO NEW HER!"
In 2000 when transitions in the company management were happening, she went to work at "Liccardi Ford" in Green Brook N.J. and then taking a position at "Princeton Nassau Conover Ford Lincoln Mercury Dealership" in Princeton N.J. by 2003, leaving to work closer to home. She worked for "Contemporary Bride Magazine" her dear friend Linda Paris and her husband Gary needed a dedicated Bookkeeper, and Diane was a perfect fit for the job. But on the side, she took a part-time job that was at "Central Jersey Airport" working with her daughter Melanie, as a flight School dispatcher, and account receivables agent. Diane treated all the pilots as if they were her own kids, always excited to see them learning and growing in their Passion of Aviation.
Diane was a mystery buff, she greatly enjoyed mystery shows on T.V. or Mystery Books, A lover of the sciences and Astrophysics, Gardening, and Cooking... her special gift to us during Christmas time was her "kolacky cookies". They were so special we would not even let them cool as they came out of the oven, the excitement of having them was such a special gift. One of her Great Loves was Paleontology, ever since she was a young child, anything to do with Dinosaurs would put the brightest smile on her face. Her favorite saying was "Just a Girl who Loves Dinosaurs"! If you asked her in her later years why she loved Dinosaurs she would simply reply “because I am one” referencing how technology has surpassed the way she once was taught, pen and paper was now computers and lasers.
Diane also had deep respect and Love of All Animals, dogs, cats, birds, fish, and hamsters, you name it, if she could have had a farm like her Aunt Kate's, one that she visited as a child we would have had more furry friends growing up, in her later years she had a special fondness for her Cats. All rescues that new her heart would heal them and bring them the love that they needed. She also loved spending time in nature, loved camping and hiking until time got the best of her and her ability to enjoy these things faded into memory.
Dear Friends and Family as Elizabeth Kubler-Ross was quoted, please remember "Real Love doesn't Die" It's the physical body that dies. Genuine, authentic Love has no expectations whatsoever; it doesn't even need the physical presence of a person. Even when passed that part of you that Loves the person will Always Live. So, when you do any of the things that make you smile know that Diane is smiling, may you feel her presence next to you.
How do you summarize someone so loved in a few paragraphs, it’s really impossible. Her greatest gift wasn’t just being a mom, it was being our Mom... She worked tirelessly to give to her family, and friends all the love and support she could give, she welcomed any of our friends who came to our home, and she treated you like one of her own children. May you never forget our mother as she never forgot any of you.
May she rest knowing she was loved and truly will be missed.
She is survived by her husband Ronald Benko. Her daughter Melanie Marcols and her husband Ronald of Piscataway, N.J. Daughter Stephanie Benko and fiancé George Ladis of South Plainfield, N.J., and son Timothy Benko and wife Diane Garlock of South Plainfield, N.J.
Cremation services will be held privately and a memorial to happen at a later date.
In memory, please consider a donation to the Plainfield Humane Society, https://pahs.org/
Or to any charity of your choosing that is near and dear to your heart.
