Diem Brown, star of MTV’s The Challenge and a cancer advocate, died on Friday after a long battle with cancer. Today, her friends, family and former ‘Challenge’ co-stars gathered in a New York City church to pay tribute to the beautiful person Diem was.
Diem’s funeral, which was held at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in downtown Manhattan.
The service was attended by many MTV reality stars, including Aneesa Ferriera, Laurel Stuckey, Evan Starkman, Kenny Santucci, Cara Maria Sorbello, Mark Long, Johanna Botta, Paula Meronek, Ace Amerson, KellyAnne Judd, Ruthie Alcaide, and Johnny “Bananas”.
Diem’s boyfriend, CT Tamburello, was also in attendance.
According to People, country singer Trisha Yearwood sang at the service, and a eulogy was given by Diem’s younger sister, Megan, who stayed by Diem’s side throughout her final battle with cancer.
“Diem loved hard, lived hard and danced hard,” Megan told the attendees in her eulogy. “My mom always said that Diem came out fighting since day one.” (Diem’s mother, Jillian, passed away in 1999.)
“I realized in order to honor my sister, I have to live how she lived,” she said, adding that she recently visited several of Diem’s favorite places in NYC. “Cancer did not beat you, Diem — it led you to eternity, our dancing angel.”
Several other friends and associates, including Survivor alum and cancer survivor Ethan Zohn, read poems, letters and prayers.
In honor of Diem’s bright spirit, attendees wore fluorescent green, blue and orange ribbons to the funeral, according to MTV.
It was at the funeral that Diem’s real name, Danielle Michelle, was revealed. (She picked up the nickname “Diem” because that’s how her initials sounded phonetically, according to a ‘Challenge’ source.)
According to Us Weekly, Diem’s brother Jarrod and Uncle Allen were among the pallbearers.
“As her casket was being walked out of the church, a video montage of her life was flashed across several TV screens,” Us reported. “Photos ranged from the star’s childhood in Georgia to her sorority days at Florida State University, as well as? her reality TV career on MTV.”
A 1980s-themed “celebration of life” reception was held at The Monarch Room, a restaurant in NYC, following the service.
Below is the beautiful memorial video that played at Diem’s funeral.
I love to see Diem Brown on television. Deepest condolence for her.
Rip Diem! You fought along hard battle. Now you can rest. Also, her mother did die from breast cancer
Rest in Peace beautiful Diem, Such a Bright Star who lived life to the fullest with such love for others…. DiemStrong… Love you forever…
So sad..and ct’s words made me tear up
People mag released an article that CT and Diem weren’t a couple and CT wasn’t around her room when Diem died… But this article is poorly written. Anyway, it’s none of our business…
Don’t know what to believe, but I think that they were somehow together. CT posted a very touching message on Instagram.
Rest in Peace, Diem.
CT just posted a touching message on his Instagram.
Did her mother die from cancer as well? Diem would have been in her teens when she passed, so she can’t have been that old when she died either..
Yes she did
@Ap No she did not die of cancer. Diem had said in numerous interviews that no one in her family before her had cancer. -The Ashley
In a People Magazine article online it says Diem’s mom died of breast cancer in 2011.
Her mother died in 1999, but not from cancer. She has not revealed what she died from, but said that it happened all in one day. -The Ashley
People magazine didn’t say her mother died of breast cancer in 2011. They were referring to Trisha Yearwood’s mother. Yearwood sung at Diem’s funeral.