Barbara M. Degraff

Barbara Miller DeGraff, formerly of Northport NY, passed away at the age of 91 in Bridgewater NJ after a life filled with a loving family, good friends and fantastic adventures.

Born May 17, 1932 in New York City, NY, Barbara was the daughter of the late John Jephson and Dorothy (Barnes) Miller. She attended Lynnbrook High School in New York and SUNY Cortland where she met her soulmate and best friend, the late Frank DeGraff. Barbara lived on Long Island for more than 87 years before moving to New Jersey three years ago to be closer to her family.

Barbara taught Health and Physical Education in the Huntington and Elwood School Districts in New York for many years. She was a fan of music, the talents of Frank Sinatra and Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra would often fill the house with favorite selections. Barbara loved to dance and continued into her 80’s with tap-dancing lessons much to the delight of her family.

Throughout her life, Barbara loved the outdoors. Some of her favorite activities included bike riding, playing a good game of tennis, keeping a bountiful flower garden, and especially snow skiing - both cross-country and downhill. Barbara and Frank kept a house at Gore Mountain in New York State where she taught her husband, her two daughters and her grandchildren to enjoy the sport of skiing.

Barbara and Frank loved to travel, across the United States and abroad in Europe, with several trips to Islamorada in the Florida Keys where they enjoyed the warmth of the Florida sun.

In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by her husband, Frank DeGraff in 2017. She is survived by her two daughters and sons-in-law, Sheri and William Plate of Flemington NJ, and Nancy and Stuart Sabin of Hudson FL, as well as her four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Cremation services are private and under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington NJ 08822.

In lieu of flowers, Barbara would want you to go outside and enjoy an adventure and have a glass of wine.

For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.