Dietta Edith (Eskin) Barelski, 95, passed peacefully from this life on September 29, 2024, at the Marliere Hospice House in New Port Richey after an illness. She was surrounded by family and friends during her last days.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Dobies Funeral Home, 8825 Old CR 54, Trinity on Sunday, October 6 from 2 to 4pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday October 7 at 9:30am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 8320 Old CR 54, Trinity Florida.

Dietta was born on March 19, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of the late Bernard and Loretta (Calverly) Eskin. Dee and her brother, Barney, were inseparable throughout their lives, and got into plenty of mischief together. With the Great Depression looming, the family moved from Brooklyn to Union, New Jersey, where Dee went to school and spent her days with family and friends, as many of her cousins lived within blocks of the family home. Dee excelled in sports in high school, especially softball, basketball, and hockey.

Dee graduated from Union High School in 1947, and as many young women did after the war, went on to marriage and family. She quickly welcomed two daughters Deborah (1948) and Kyle (1950) and worked in many of the local businesses as a secretary.

In May 1957 she married John Barelski and welcomed two more daughters to the family, Cynthia (1959) and Lynne (1961). Dee often joked that John was outnumbered, as even the dog was a female! Due to John’s career, Dee moved frequently, and lived in Illinois, New Jersey, and eventually settling in Mountaintop, Pennsylvania. After John died in 2009, she departed the cold north and settled in the much warmer Seven Springs Country Club in Trinity.

Dee was an accomplished seamstress, sewed many of her own outfits and clothes for the girls. She also taught sewing for the Singer Company. She became an Avon Lady as her daughters grew into teenagers and became very popular with their friends as they all tried out the newest make-up! She eventually achieved the prestigious President’s Club status for her sales. But her happiest job was as homemaker, where she loved to set a grand table and fill it with all sorts of delicacies!

Her competitive spirit and enjoyment of sports was evident lifelong. She belonged to bowling leagues (400 club), lively horseshoe pitches, and of course, golf, which she played until she was 90.

Dee was a member of St. Thomas Acquinas Church, Trinity. She was also a member of St. Jude’s Church, Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, where she became a Catholic in 2000. She was active on many parish committees and events there.

Surviving are daughters Kyle Holland (Barry) of Hernando Beach, Florida; Cynthia Witkowski (David) of Hudson, Florida; Lynne Barelski (Charles Sipler) of Mountaintop, Pennsylvania, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.