Obituary of Anna Leah Dare

July 18, 1925 – December 24, 2024

Anna Leah Dare, nee Laine, of Cape May Court House, NJ, age 99, passed away peacefully  on December 24, 2024. At the time of her death, it is believed that she was the oldest surviving “Mace Baby”, having been born at the former Mace Hospital in North Wildwood, NJ.

Leah, her preferred name, was born to the late August and Anna K. Laine, nee Saari, Finnish Immigrants residing in the North Wildwood immigrant community. She graduated from Margaret Mace Junior High in 1940 and Wildwood High School in 1943, working summers on the Wildwood Boardwalk with her lifelong friends, Doris Peterson Menz and Marilyn Langford Tillotson, at the Old Original Roast Beef and Richman’s Ice Cream.  She also worked at F. W. Woolworth, Marine National Bank and Dare Bros. Realty, also finding time to be a Den Mother for Cub Scout Pack 184.

She married the love of her life, Robert M. Dare, Jr., “Bob” to all who knew him, on January 28, 1945, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Wildwood, NJ, where she had been baptized on March 30, 1926. Three children followed, David Robert in 1946, Paul William in 1949 and Karen Lee in 1953.

When Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, now Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, came to life in the 1950’s, Leah became a volunteer, initially operating the elevator, thought to be one of the first in Cape May County. She continued to volunteer through her 80’s, serving well over 7,000 hours.

Leah’s true passion, in addition to her family, was serving Holy Trinity not only as a faithful member but also as a Sunday School teacher, piano accompanist for Sunday School and an occasional worship service, member of Church Council, treasurer and leader of the Paul H. Neff Circle, member of the choir, hand bell choir, Assisting Minister, altar guild and member of the Tuesday Sewing Circle, where she continued to stitch quilts the week of Thanksgiving 2024.

At home, she kept in contact with family and friends in the United States and Finland by email, Facebook and Instagram, tended to her flowers on the back porch while observing the birds and squirrels attracted to the feeders located there, navigated Fare Free Transportation for various appointments, especially Mirror Mirror Hair Salon and enjoyed her neighbors on Wynndemere Court, following her move to Cape May Court House after residing in the Wildwoods for 89 years.

In addition to her parents, Leah was predeceased by her loving husband Bob on April 15, 1982, her daughter Karen L. Dare-Gentile on July 7, 2024 and her brother, Alarick August “Gus” Laine on August 14, 2022.

She is survived by her sons, David R. (Ann Bodnyk) of Kutztown, PA and Paul W. (Sherri) of Cape May Court House, NJ; her grandchildren, Noah A. Dare-Gentile of Castle Rock, CO; Jennifer M. Dare of Edgewater, NJ; Emily A. Dare (Josh Ellis) of Baton Rouge, LA; Robbie Dare-Gentile; Arlo Dare-Gentile, Hannah Dare-Gentile; Ian Dare-Gentile and Peter Dare-Gentile, all of Atlantic City, NJ; her great-grandchildren Nicholas, Alexandre and Jose; her sisters-in-law, Inge F. Laine and Mary Jane Phillips; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and many cousins in Finland.

Leah’s Memorial Service will be celebrated 11:00AM on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2800 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood, NJ, with visitation starting at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2810 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood, NJ  08260.