Obituary of Rayna B. Dias

Rayna B. Dias (née Mascarenhas), a long-time Madison resident, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 24, 2025 with her family by her side. She was 84.

She leaves behind her devoted children, Alwyn Dias and his wife Stephanie, and Judith Bess and her husband David; one brother, Fr. Joel Mascarenhas; one sister, Ruby D’Cruz; three cherished grandchildren, Sebastian, Deja and Alexander; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Rayna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Anselmo J. Dias in 2013 and her brother John Mascarenhas.

Rayna was born in Bombay, India on October 28, 1940 to the late Joseph and Rose Mascarenhas. She was very athletic in her youth, participating in track and hurdles while in school.

Rayna and her husband Anselmo were a truly perfect pair. Anselmo’s career took his family all over the world; they lived in New York, England, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and East and West Africa before settling in Madison in 1980. Rayna was more than happy to be part of and to share in the adventure, absorbing all of the culture of the places they traveled. She spoke multiple languages and loved to incorporate multicultural influences in her cooking. Her children marveled at her ability to replicate any recipe she found perfectly while putting her own ethnic twist onto it. 

Rayna was not one to sit idle. While living in Madison, she worked as a secretary for St. Vincent Martyr School and then as an administrative assistant for Pfizer. At the age of 50, a wonderful talent for art emerged in Rayna. She created many beautiful works of art using oil and acrylic paints on canvas.

Anselmo and Rayna were both members of St. Vincent Martyr Church in Madison and St. Thomas More Church in Convent Station. She was a woman of great faith and love for her family. Rayna was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who doted on her family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Rayna on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Church, 4 Convent Road, Convent Station. Those who wish may attend the mass virtually by visiting www.stmnj.org

Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, Rayna’s family kindly requests charitable contributions be made in her memory to Children’s Tumor Foundation, P.O. Box 7247, Philadelphia, PA 19170 or at www.ctf.org/ways-to-give/