Ella (Graeflich) Barrett passed at age 90, May 6, 2013. Ella was born June 6, 1922, in Leipzig, Bessarabia, Russia (a Germany colony bordering the Black Sea which is now part of modern day Moldova) to Heinrich Graeflich and Mathilde (Boroske) Graeflich. After moving to the Boston area Ella met Joseph F. Barrett of Quincy, Mass. After serving in the Army during World War II, Joe worked for the U.S. Postal Service and was a widower with four children, Lorna, Paul, Joanne and David. They married in 1961 and Ella raised the three youngest Joanne, Paul and David. Lorna had married and was raising her own family. Paul and David predeceased Ella in 1981 and 1971 respectfully. While living in Quincy, the Barrett family spent their summers on Bear Island (Lake Winnepauskee), Meridith, N.H. Joe and Ella retired in 1976 and moved to Nalcrest, Fla., a postal worker retirement community and were one of the first families to live there. In 1980 they moved to Oakwood Drive, Lake Wales, Fla. There they made many new wonderful friends as well as maintaining their valued relationships with friends from Nalcrest. Ella lost her beloved Joe in May of 2004. Ella remained active in many Nalcrest activities including homemakers, sewing circle and the various holiday functions, parties and dinners. Known to many as "Ms. Ella," she was loved by all who knew her as a warm, kind, loving and giving person. She is survived by her sister, Lily Nutz of Detmold, Germany; and her brother, Alfred Graeflich of Paderborn, Germany. Ella is also survived by her daughter, Joanne Barrett and her companion Paul J. Nugent Sr. of Plymouth, Mass.; grandchildren, Bryan and his wife Joy Mahn of Kauai, Hawaii, and Andrea Scannell and her companion Matthew Kennedy of Weymouth, Mass.; great-grandchildren, Storm and Skyla Mahn of Kauai, Hawaii, and Jessica, Mathew and Nicholas Scannell of Weymouth, Mass.; her daughter, Lorna Dibona of Braintree, Mass.; grandchildren, Tracy and her husband Jack Hatfield of Whitman, Mass., Kimberly Dibona of Dorchester, Mass., Craig and his wife Rose Dibona of Braintree, Mass., Wayne and his wife Corrine of Brockton, Mass., Paul Dibona of Dorchester, Mass., Heidi and her husband Michael Madden of Milton, Mass.; along with their respective 12 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild. Ella is also survived by two special nieces, Nicole and her husband Glen Allen of New York and Kursin Carpenter and her husband Robert of Arizona. Ella also leaves her loving friend, Cathrine Miller-Madsen. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, May 9, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Wales. Interment will follow at 1 p.m. at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla. Viewing hours will held Wednesday, May 8, from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Alzheimer Research, c/o NARFE, P.O. Box 6386, Nalcrest, FL 33856. Johnson Funeral Home Lake Wales, Fla.




Published in The Patriot Ledger on May 7, 2013