Desiree Remling

Born on August 6, 1966 in the Bronx, Desiree spent most of her life in Mahopac, New York. Although she briefly left when she met the love of her life, they later returned to raise their three girls. Desiree spent her final years cherishing the salty air and beautiful sunrises on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, where she shared as much time as she could with her daughters and grandchildren.

Desiree is survived by her husband of nearly 38 years, Robert, her children, Amanda (Tom), Megan (Shane) and Chelsea, and her grandchildren, Emma (4), Harper (3), Paityn (2) and Liam (9 months), and her sisters, Lorraine (Al), Maria (Marc) and Stephanie (Chris). She is predeceased by her loving parents, John and Rose Marie.

Desiree began to experience some concerning health issues around 2020, but it wasn’t until she flew out to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in early 2023 that she finally received her diagnosis: a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease called Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Desiree was determined to fight the disease right from the beginning, enduring a monthly clinical trial at NYU that required her to have infusions and unpleasant spinal taps. The trial at NYU ended this past summer, but Desiree’s determination to slow down the progression of the disease pushed her to pursue another clinical trial at UPenn, of which she was in the middle of the interview process for when she passed.

Desiree lived her life with a giant smile on her face that reached all the way to her beautiful, big green eyes. Her laugh was infectious; one of the best sounds in the world. And she was so funny – even when she wasn’t trying to be.

Desiree was a people person. She thrived working as an office manager at Smiles on Hudson Dentistry in Croton-on-Hudson, befriending nearly every person she met. When she was home she loved reading, swimming and biking, an activity she tried to continue despite the physical challenges associated with MSA.

Desiree put her heart into everything she did. She was a devoted wife and mother, always home to get her girls on and off the bus and a hot meal (albeit sometimes exploding) on the table. She signed her girls up for every activity, baked every birthday cake, made handmade Halloween costumes, helped with homework and so much more. She bandaged every wound and was a shoulder to cry on. She was the number one cheerleader at every sporting event and the mom with the giant video recorder at the recitals. She displayed every school art project in the house with pride, and boxed up what she couldn’t keep out.

Desiree loved being a mother, but thrived as a grandmother, or Yaya as she would affectionally be nicknamed when her first grandchild started to talk. She taught herself how to sew, making her grandchildren everything from infant sleep sacks, to pillows and doll accessories.

Desiree left us too soon, but we will remember and love her forever.

A service for Desiree will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, located at 4700 Long Beach Blvd in Brant Beach on Friday, September 13 at 10 a.m. A celebration of life will immediately follow at Surf City Firehouse, located at 713 Long Beach Blvd. in Surf City. All family and friends are welcome to join to remember Desiree and share memories in her honor.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you donate to Mission MSA in honor of Desiree’s memory or to the wonderful volunteers at Surf City Fire and EMS.

To leave online condolences and fond memories for the Remling Family, please visit www.shinnfuneralhome.com

Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home was entrusted with the funeral arrangements.