Arline Marie Diorio-Faley (née Clark), age 91, of Winston-Salem, N.C., beloved wife of the late Joseph James Faley, passed peacefully into eternal rest on Monday, December 22, 2025, at her son’s residence in Monroe, Conn.
Born in Teaneck, N.J., in 1934, she was the daughter of the late Elmer and Madeline (née D’Atri) Clark.
Arline graduated from Teaneck High School. She began her career as a stenographer with Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) in Ridgefield, N.J., and later served as an administrative assistant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation Unit at Curtiss-Wright Corporation, before devoting her life to raising a family with her first husband, Gerald Sr., and their four children.
After her children were grown, she returned to the workforce as an Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Public Works for the Borough of Tenafly, N.J., where she retired.
Among her many talents, Arline truly embraced the joy of cooking and feeding all who graced her table. Always and forever an animal lover — dogs were her favorite. She was a breeder of English Setters in the early days and truly loved raising them.
She is survived by her children: Donna Diorio-Sullivan and Debra Brandsema and her husband, Douglas, all of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Gerald (Jerry) Diorio Jr. of Monroe, Conn.; her grandchildren: Nicole Santiago and her husband, Chris, and Kenneth Brandsema and his wife, Ashley, all of Clemmons, N.C.; Christine Leven of Ormond Beach, Fla.; and Nicholas Diorio of Wallingford, Conn.; and her great-grandchildren: Hailey Clark and Connor Davis Brandsema, and Silas Damien Santiago of Clemmons, N.C.
She is also survived by her beloved sister, Beverly A. O’Neill of Mechanicsburg, Penn.; her nephew, Tom O’Neill, and his wife, Gloria, of Alexandria, Va.; her nieces, Shannon Costill and her husband, Nicolas, of Enola, Penn., and Megan and her partner, Gina, of Harrisburg, Penn.; and many beloved grandnieces and grandnephews. She also leaves behind cherished childhood friends who were like family to her.
In addition to her parents and husbands, Arline was predeceased by her youngest son, David P. Diorio, and her brother, Arthur C. Clark.
The family extends special gratitude to her extraordinary caregivers and support team: Ashley and the staff at Brookdale Senior Living in Winston-Salem, N.C.; Christine and Rose and the dedicated team at Home Instead Home Care in Trumbull, Conn.; the caring professionals of HHC at Home Hospice — Brian, Jaclyn, and Christina; The Rev. Józef Ukaj (Fr. Joe) of St. Jude Roman Catholic Church in Monroe; her many devoted doctors and nurses at St. Vincent’s Medical Center; and the compassionate members of the Monroe Volunteer EMS. The Family will remain forever grateful for your kindness.
Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Thursday, January 8, 2026, 4 – 8 p.m. at Spadaccino & Leo P. Gallagher Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, Conn. Burial will private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made, in Arline’s memory, to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or to a local animal shelter of one’s choice — causes close to her heart. Online condolences may be left at SpadaccinoFuneralHome.com.
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