Gail May DiLaura

Gail May DiLaura, 84, a lifelong resident of Pompton Plains, passed away on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Chilton Memorial Hospital, with her loving son by her side.

Born and raised in Pompton Plains, Gail was one of five children of Charles and Helen Hunt. She grew up with her three brothers, Robert, Charles Jr., Theodore, and her sister, Elizabeth, on the cherished family farm (the “Old Hunt Farm”) that would later become Sunset Valley Golf Course. Nestled in the foothills of the Ramapo Mountain Range, the farm provided a picturesque backdrop for Gail’s childhood. She spent her early years tending to animals, ice skating on the family’s “Pollywog pond” (which still remains today), and enjoying the change of seasons in the valley, a sight that remained etched in her heart even after the land was sold to Morris County in the 1960s.

A graduate of Butler High School’s Class of 1958, Gail married her high school sweetheart, Richard DiLaura in June of 1961. Together, they made their home in Pompton Plains, where they raised their son, Dean.

Gail worked in various secretarial positions, including roles at Kearfott and American Cyanamid. However, her most cherished role was that of a devoted mother, stepping away from the workforce to dedicate herself fully to her family. She approached motherhood with love, enthusiasm, and commitment, creating a strong foundation for her husband and son to flourish in their own endeavors. Her deep devotion to family will forever remain her greatest legacy.

Once Dean was grown, Gail re-entered the workforce, finding joy in roles at the Quinn Service Agency and later at the Chancellor Academy, where she cared for the school’s animals. A lifelong animal lover, she drew on her childhood experiences on the farm to nurture and tend to a wide range of species, a responsibility she took on with great care and compassion.

Gail is lovingly survived by her son, Dean DiLaura, and his wife, Traci Bopp; her grandson, Dylan DiLaura, and his fiancé, Brittany Zeck; her great-grandson, Titus Clay DiLaura; her cousin, Beverly Kuter; and her nieces and nephew: Lorraine Park, Kathy Goldman, Barbara Hunt, Dick Austin, and Susan Caudill.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Richard; and her siblings, Robert Hunt, Charles Hunt Jr. and his wife June, Theodore Hunt and his wife Kay, and Elizabeth Austin and her husband George.

Services will be held privately for the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Gail’s honor may be made to ADOPT (Animal Dignity Organization of Pequannock Township), PO Box 331, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444.

Brought to you by Scanlan's Funeral Home

Gail May DiLaura

Pompton Plains, New Jersey

May 15, 1940 - March 9, 2025

Brought to you by Scanlan's Funeral Home

Gail May DiLaura

Pompton Plains, New Jersey

May 15, 1940 - March 9, 2025

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