Lynne Derby Graham, formerly of Montclair, died Feb. 28, 2019 at her residence in West Orange.
Mrs. Graham was born in Evanston, Ill. 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 the family to Dayton, Ohio. She met her husband, Russell Graham, at Skytop Lodge in the Poconos where she spent summers with her sister, Ann and grandfather. After moving to Montclair with their four boys, the couple began spending summers at the Edgemere Club in Dingman’s Ferry, Pa., returning with the ever-growing family for over 50 years.
She enjoyed golf, knitting and gardening. She was an avid reader, managing a local bookstore for many years followed by a long career as a real estate agent for Stanton Company, both in Montclair.
Mrs. Graham 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 Rittera and her three great-grandchildren, Elisabeth and Charley Graham and Max Williams.
A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m. Friday, March 15 at St. Luke’s Church, 73 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Lynne Derby Graham’s name to St. Luke’s Thrift Shop, 73 South Fullerton Ave., Montclair, where she devoted many hours to serving the community over the past years. For online condolences visit moriartyfh.com.