Margaret DiMinno

Margaret Rose DiMinno, 87, of Toms River, NJ, passed away on October 19, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was affectionately known as “Meg,” “Mrs. Meg,” “Margie,” or “Maggie Rose” to her family and close friends.

She was born in Jersey City, NJ, to Margaret Deyette and Andrew Mussara. Meg attended Dumont High School in Dumont, NJ, and went on to marry her high school sweetheart, Frank DiMinno. Together, they raised two daughters, Paige and Kerry, and shared 67 years of marriage. She affectionately called him “Hon,” a name that soon caught on with family and friends. To Frank, she was always “his bride,” even after all those years together.

Meg devoted herself to raising her daughters, staying home with them until they were older before returning to work. She held various office positions before concluding her career as the manager of the international department at Edmund Scientific Company. A perfectionist at heart and a master at organizing, Meg took pride in being efficient. She brought dedication and care to everything she did, always expecting the best from herself.

Meg rarely sat still and always found something to keep her busy, whether she was experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, cleaning, shopping, or working on a sewing project. At the end of the day, though, you could often find her on the couch, curled up with a good book. In her younger years, she enjoyed mahjong and tennis with friends and earned the highest score in her bowling league. She also made time to volunteer with the American Heart Association and True Sisters and generously gave to those in need.

She was always taking on a new baking project and had something to share with family, friends, and neighbors. They looked forward to her treats throughout the year, but Christmas was extra special. She began baking in November, making more than 20 kinds of cookies that she and her girls carefully arranged on trays. Her holiday parties brought the neighbors together at her home, where they enjoyed good company, a warm welcome, and plenty of food, especially her pepperoni bread.

Meg raised her daughters with love and firm expectations, teaching them the importance of discipline and integrity. Nothing seemed to get past her, and her girls were convinced that she truly had ”eyes in the back of her head.”

When she became “Grammie,” her grandchildren were the center of her universe. She loved watching them grow and always had stories to share about the things they said and did. They will always remember her baking, especially her “special treats,” but even more than that, they’ll remember her kindness and care. In Grammie’s eyes, they could do no wrong, and the rules she had for her daughters somehow never applied at Grammie’s house.

Meg was spunky, independent, and determined, and she never hesitated to speak her mind, always wanting to help and guide the people she loved. Whenever things didn’t go quite as planned, Meg would gently remind you that “God has a plan.”

Meg was predeceased by her beloved husband, Frank DiMinno. She is survived by her two daughters, Paige Reagan and her husband, Michael, of Point Pleasant, NJ, and Kerry Jones and her husband, Gary, of Cranford, NJ, as well as her dear grandchildren, Caitlin Reagan and Gavin and Dylan Jones.

Meg was deeply loyal to her family and had the kindest, most generous heart. She had a way of making even the smallest things special, like the smiley faces she added when she signed her name. She’ll be deeply missed, and life without her will take some time to get used to. We find comfort in the memories she leaves behind, and it makes our hearts happy to know that Hon and his bride are finally together again. Heapy Heaps, Mama.

A memorial gathering will be held in Meg’s memory on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home, 26 Mule Road, Toms River, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, you can make donations in Meg’s honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Online Donations - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital