Obituary of Lynne Graham

Lynne Derby Graham passed away peacefully February 28th, 2019 at her residence in West Orange, New Jersey. She will be missed by her loving family and countless friends who comforted her during her final days.

Lynne was born in Evanston, IL on July 24,1936. Following the death of her father in 1945 (a Navy Lieutenant killed in the Pacific Theatre near the end of World War II), her mother moved Lynne and her sister Ann to Dayton, Ohio. Lynne met her husband, Russell Graham, at Skytop Lodge in the Poconos where she spent summers with her sister and grandfather. After moving to Montclair, New Jersey with their four boys, Lynne and Russ began spending summers at the Edgemere Club in Dingman’s Ferry, PA, returning with the ever-growing family for over fifty years.

Lynne enjoyed golf, knitting, and gardening. She was an avid reader, managing a local book store for many years followed by a long career as a real estate agent for Stanton Company, both in Montclair, New Jersey.

She had the unique ability to connect with people of all generations and loved playing games with her grandchildren. Her family will especially miss the large holiday celebrations with friends, relatives and their pets – all were welcome.

Lynne was preceded in death by her father Harry Leigh Derby Jr., mother Mary Katherine Derby, sister Ann Derby, half-brother Harry L. Derby III, husband Russell D. Graham Jr., and oldest son Russell D. Graham III.

She is survived by her sons Tom, Peter and Philip Graham, daughters-in-law Shelley Graham, Deirdre Graham and Leslie Ritter, grandchildren Nick Graham, Kate Williams, Leigh Graham, Jill Lamberg, Bridget Graham, Emma Graham, Tess Graham and Ian Ritter. Lynne also has three great-grandchildren, Elisabeth and Charley Graham and Max Williams.

A celebration of Lynne’s life will be held on Friday, March 15th at 11 am at St. Luke’s Church, 73 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Lynne’s name to St. Luke’s Thrift Shop, Montclair, New Jersey, where she devoted many hours to serving the community over the past years.