Lillian L. Dibble

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Lillian Lucia Dibble. She was born April 3, 1920 in Brooklyn, NY to Leonardo LaPlaca and Giuseppe Sabatino where she lived with her older sister, Rose and brother, Joe. As a child her dad would take her to go on rides at Coney Island and have her work in his shoe shop where she would get nickel tips from customers. She grew up with her sister’s children, Marion, Phyllis, Angelina and Angelo. The girls would have a great time at the beach and trips to the Poconos.

In her 20’s Lillian worked for a large clothing store in the NYC garment district. She was a fashion model and a designer of women’s clothes. Her fashions were sold at all the stores throughout the country. She always made sure she looked her best.

In the summer of 1950 she met her husband, Robert, at Sound Beach, NY, while she was lying in the sand. Their first encounter was him almost stepping on her and she telling him, “watch where you are going, you big lug.” He managed to win her over by lavishing her not with flowers but with soft shell crabs he learned was her favorite. They were married a few months later on September 3, 1950.

Lillian left her career that she loved to raise two children. She enjoyed dressing them up in various clothes, continuing her gleam for fashion. She was married for 47 years before her husband passed away in 1997. After his death she remained very active, joining the Italian Club on Long Island, traveling to visit relatives and frequent visits to Greenport, LI. She also became a Mets Fan. She went to many of their games with her friend Eddy, and knew all of the players by name. In her spare time she would play her Baldwin Piano. She had such a great ear for music and played many of her favorite Italian songs by ear. She was such a great entertainer and loved playing for people visiting her. You could pick a song and she would hit it right away playing both treble and bass with great entertainment!

She eventually left Long Island and moved into a home in Manchester, NJ. She lived there for 14 years, enjoying interactions with her neighbors and attending social functions at the club house. She moved to the Reformed Church Home on October 6, 2022 where she remained until her passing on August 16, 2025.

She is survived by her son Robert and his wife Susan, son Byron, five grandchildren Tracey, Kenneth, Georgina, Kayla and Maxwell, and three great grandchildren, Lily, Omar and Gia.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to either Swan Hospice, 1777 Avenue of the states, Lakewood, NJ 08701 and/or Reformed Church Home, 1990 Route 18, Old Bridge, NJ 08857. Viewing will be Wednesday at the Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home in Manchester, NJ, on Wednesday, August 20th from 2-4PM and 7-9PM.