Joy DeGraff

Lorna Joy DeGraff of Rochester, NY left this world for her heavenly abode on June 10, 2026. She left behind a large family that adored her. She was known for filling her small house with ten thousand books primarily about Jesus but also collected questionable self-help and nutritional books. She hated the name Lorna and went by Joy.

She was born in Marysville, Michigan on January 18, 1931, the youngest child of Raymond William Bucknam and Florence Lorna Hawes Bucknam. She had two much older brothers, Gordon and Dean. Gordon taught her how to box, which was a useful skill. She was very proud of knocking down one of her elementary school tormentors thus ending their bullying.

She studied opera as a youngster and teen but settled into a secretarial career before becoming the wife of David William DeGraff and mother to Dorothy (David) Ross, Ruth (Daniel) Christianson, Daniel (Kellie) DeGraff and Steven (Kimberly) DeGraff. She brought her children up to follow Jesus and brought them to church for at least three lengthy services a week, for which they are/were grateful. Besides books, family and Jesus, she loved nature, road trips, everything green, pens and dogs.

She is predeceased by her parents and brothers as well as her husband, daughter Ruth, son Daniel and granddaughter Rachael.

She had 14 grandchildren: Kimberly (Demetrius) McCloud, Jessica (Michael) Bond, Daniel (Ryann) DeGraff, Timothy (Briana) DeGraff, Benjamin (Judy) Colburn, Christian Colburn, Rachael Christianson, Rebecca (Seth) Perotti, Sarah (William) Tuffo, Matthew (Samantha) DeGraff, Hannah DeGraff, Samuel DeGraff, Michael (Rebecca) Ross, and James (Meghan) Ross. She also had an adopted grandchild, Christena Niven.

She had 23 great grandchildren: Ajani, Anthony, Ariana, Aubrey, Bethany, Caleb, Carah, Demetrius, Ellison, Giovanni, Jorie, Luigi, Owen, Quinn, Reign, River, Sabrina, Sienna, Sophia, Tamryn, Tymire, Wesley and Zacchaeus.

Visitation with the family will be Thursday, 6/18/2026 from 4-7 PM. The funeral will be held at 11 AM on Friday, 6/19/2026 at New Comer Cremations and Burials at 6 Empire Blvd, Rochester, NY. The burial will follow the funeral at 1 PM at Lakeview Cemetery of Richmond in Honeoye, NY.

Contributions in her memory may be made to New York Adult & Teen Challenge.

To share a memory of Lorna or leave a special message for her family, visit the guest book below.