Diane Levey

Diane (Goldman) Levey of Jupiter, Fl. and formerly of Woodbridge, Conn., died Feb. 9 after a brief illness, two weeks shy of her 103rd birthday.

She was the mother of Patricia Levey Lebow of Palm Beach and John (wife, Cynthia) Levey of Hobe Sound and the widow of Burton N. Levey. Patricia’s husband, Alan Lebow, predeceased.

Born Feb. 26, 1920 in New Haven, Conn., Diane was the first of three children of Maurice J. and Sara (nee Alderman) Goldman. Her parents were among the founding families of B’nai Jacob Synagogue and Diane remained a life-long member.

She attended New Haven public schools and described her high school years at Hillhouse as “dances, parties and summers on the beach.”

After graduation, she enrolled at Weylister Junior College and graduated in 1939, following which she began work in a law firm as a legal secretary where she met her future husband who was then studying for the Bar exam.

They married in Feb. 1943, three months before Burton, by then an Air Force first lieutenant, was deployed to England.

During the early years of their marriage, Diane performed on stage in musicals. All through her life, Diane’s trained singing voice drew admiration, especially with her signature tune of La Vie En Rose which she performed in English and French for her 102nd birthday.

After her children were grown, she earned a real estate license and went to work with her husband in the real estate company he founded, Levey, Miller, Maretz.

At the time of Burton’s death in 2012, they had been married nearly 70 years.

Mrs. Levey spent her retirement years enjoying her family, friends, books and nature. She always had a smile on her face and radiated happiness.

In addition to her two children, she is survived by her three grandchildren: James Levey (wife, Shari), Amanda Lebow (husband, David Distenfeld) and Scott Levey (wife, Julie) and two great-grandchildren, Katelyn Levey and Alexander Levey.

A private graveside service for the immediate family took place in West Palm Beach.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Diane and Burton Levey Family Fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven or to Kids’ Dreams, Inc., 1760 N. Jog Rd., Suite 150, West Palm Beach 33411 or to a charity of your choice.