Grace Ann Kolbert Dillon, 65, of Manchester, NJ peacefully

passed away on Monday, November 20, 2023 at the

Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ after a lifelong

and courageous battle with kidney disease.

She was the loving wife of Walter Francis Dillon Jr., with

whom she celebrated 41 years of marriage in May of this year.

Grace was born in Princeton, NJ to the late Harry F.

Kolbert, former longtime Skillman N.J. Postmaster, and

Eleanora (McAlinden) Kolbert. She was their fourth daughter of

eight daughters. She graduated from Montgomery High School,

Skillman, NJ, and Bay State College, Boston, MA, with a degree

in fashion retailing. She loved Boston and after college

remained there, employed in the buying department of Filene’s

Department Store. She came home to Skillman due to illness

but returned to Boston to receive a kidney transplant in 1981.

Her family wishes to remember in gratitude the family of the

kidney donor, and the kidney transplant team at Massachusetts

General Hospital for giving Grace the gift of a healthy life for

many years.

Grace was a gifted photographer and chronicled all of her

large family’s important events. She loved spending time with

her family in her summer home on Long Beach Island. She was

a talented craftsperson and delighted in surprising her

extended family with her homemade creations. Grace had

always loved cats, and had many beloved pets, but she

probably loved her little dog, Binkie-woo, the best. She was

also a gifted storyteller and her funny stories kept us all

amused.

In addition to her husband, Grace is survived by her two

children, Charles Francis Dillon and Chelsea Ann Dillon

Franczak, as well as her son-in-law, Dr. William Franczak. Other

survivors are her mother, Eleanora Kolbert, and her seven

sisters; Ann Marie Maldarelli (Anthony), Nora Kolbert, Rosanne

Sarnese (William), Rita Lesczynski (Randy), Claire Fazio (Philip),

Alice Kolbert and Paula Gebhart (Norman). In addition to these,

Grace is survived by 14 nieces and nephews and their spouses,

and 17 great nieces and nephews, as well as her lifelong friend,

Debbie Kozesnik Lorenzetti. The family would also like to

acknowledge and thank all the medical personnel at Robert

Wood Johnson Medical Center and the Fresenius Dialysis

Center in Toms River, who provided Grace with excellent

medical care and support through all these years.

A memorial service was held by her family. In lieu of

flowers, contributions may be made to The Covenant House at

www.covenanthouse.org or Vested Interested in K9s Inc at

www.vik9s.org.