Michele DiBello

Michele DiBello, the matriarch and foundation of her family, passed away on January 1, 2026, surrounded by love, with her children by her side during her final breaths.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Michele grew up in Clifton, New Jersey, where her strength was shaped early in life. After the untimely passing of her mother, Sofie Parnes-Levine—a beautiful entrepreneur who left this world far too soon—Michele was raised by her devoted father, Louis Levine. Under his guidance, she learned independence, grit, and the value of hard work. As a young woman, Michele would travel into Manhattan to work alongside her father at the newspaper stand he owned, experiences that instilled in her a deep sense of responsibility, resilience, and pride.

Michele graduated from Clifton High School in 1970. Following graduation, she embraced life fully, spending time traveling across the country and living in Santa Barbara, California, as well as in parts of Florida. These years reflected her adventurous spirit and independence—traits that would remain with her for the rest of her life.

After returning to New Jersey, Michele began her career with the United States Postal Service, where her strong work ethic and dedication were evident to all who knew her. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Richard DiBello. Together, they built a life rooted in love, loyalty, and family until his untimely passing.

Michele was strength in its purest form. Fierce, resilient, and unwavering, she lived her life placing family above all else. She carried burdens quietly, faced adversity head-on, and never backed down from what needed to be done. Selfless to her core, Michele embodied what it meant to be a mother, a protector, and the steady force that held everyone together.

After the loss of her husband, Michele raised her two children on her own, beginning when they were just 13 and 8 years old. She never wavered—not once. She never complained. Instead, she stood tall, shouldered every responsibility, and poured everything she had into her children, ensuring they were loved, guided, and protected through every stage of their lives. Her strength during that time defined who she was and set the example her family would follow forever.

Michele was predeceased by her beloved husband, Richard DiBello.

She is survived by her children, Richard DiBello and his wife Jaclyn DiBello, and their three children—Joseph, Mia, and Gianna—as well as Stacey Peterson and her husband Justin Peterson, and their daughter Morgan.

Her grandchildren were the true light of her life. There was nothing Michele wanted more than to be with them—to nurture them, guide them, protect them, and spoil them rotten. They were her joy, her pride, and her purpose.

Over the past year, Michele cherished every moment spent loving on the newest addition to her family, Morgan. Determined and steadfast as ever, she did everything possible to remain present and healthy so she could be there for her family, embracing each moment with intention and love.

Michele’s legacy is one of strength, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion. She leaves behind a family forever shaped by her example—by the values she instilled, the resilience she modeled, and the love she gave so freely. Though her absence leaves an immeasurable void, her spirit will continue to live on through the family she built and the lives she touched.

She was our everything.

And she always will be.

Always and forever.