Barbara DeCamp

Barbara was born in Queens, New York on December 26, 1934, to Alfred Gaffney and Florence Meyer, first generation children of Irish and German immigrants. Barbara grew up in Cambria Heights, New York. After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School, she worked for the Home Insurance Company in the Financial District of Manhattan, where she met her husband, James.

Barbara and James lived in Mount Vernon, New York, before settling in Long Island, where they raised their family in West Islip. Barbara worked in the public school as a Kindergarten Teacher’s Aide and occasionally made a delicious lemon pound cake. Her gift for conversation was handy when she later worked at Equifax as a Market Researcher and Manager in Massapequa, NY.

Upon retiring, she and James moved to East Hanover, New Jersey where they were devoted to their family and grandchildren and enjoyed traveling to see the grandchildren’s musical performances, sporting events and spending holidays with them. After James’ death, Barbara became involved with the Livingston Women’s Club where she reveled in being the editor of their monthly newsletter, the Chatterbox. She also used her knitting skills to make prayer shawls for St. Rose of Lima in East Hanover.

For the past 12 years, she loved spending time with her dear friend, Malcolm Powell, in Connecticut, where he introduced her to sailing at The Shore & Country Club. Although she always said she doesn’t like the water, she enjoyed numerous multi-night trips on his “ship”, as she liked to call it, to various locations in Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey. They also enjoyed vacationing in Florida and going on an Alaskan Cruise.

Barbara may best be remembered for her generosity, her stylishness, her conviviality, and her love of family and friends.

Barbara is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, James Dewey DeCamp, Sr. She is survived by her two sons, James, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth; Brian, and his wife, Liza; her daughter, Tricia (Neary), and her husband, Kevin; and her 9 grandchildren, Paul, Mary, James and William DeCamp; Kyle and Brian DeCamp; and Kevin, Sean and Kelsey Neary. She also leaves behind her brother, Alfred Gaffney, and his wife, Leticia; and her sister, Marianne Nelson, and her husband, Peter; as well as many adored nieces and nephews, and extended family and friends. She also leaves her dear companion, Malcolm Powell.

Visitation will be held at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home on Friday, February 18, 4-8pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Raphael Roman Catholic Church on Saturday, February 19 at 10am. A Graveside Service will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.