Barbara N. Dees of New Smyrna Beach, Florida passed away peacefully on Saturday August 30, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Born July 23rd, 1937, Barbara spent her childhood in Trenton, NJ and eventually moved to Daytona Beach, FL in her young adult years where she met her husband of 55 years, Robert. They eventually moved to New Jersey, where they raised three beautiful children, Robert, Lewan and Lori.

Barbara loved the beach and spent many summers with her family at Long Beach Island in NJ building lifelong memories. After her husband retired, Barbara and Robert moved to Jacksonville, Florida where they continued to create many memories and eventually moved to their final home on Bouchelle Island in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Barbara was very involved in her community of Bouchelle Island, serving on the board, and volunteering to host many parties and events. She loved any reason to get dressed up. It was there where Barbara made many lifelong friends. She went on weekly lunch dates with “the girls” and went to the club house each week to play mahjong.

Barbara was fortunate enough to have two great loves in her life. Several years after losing her husband Robert in 2010, she met John, another Bouchelle Island native. John and Barbara were lucky enough to spend many years together until Johns passing in 2023.

Barbara was passionate about many things, her love of card games like rummy and bridge, and board games like mahjong, she loved to travel, she enjoyed trips to the casino, especially the slot machines, and watching the Philadelphia Eagles but above all else Barbara adored spending time with her children, granddaughters, and her great grandchildren who always kept her very busy. She never missed an opportunity to be with her family and enjoyed going on many family vacations, cruises to the Caribbean and summer trips to NJ. If her family was going, so was Barbara. To her family she was known as Mom, Nana and sometimes even Barbie.

Barbara was a strong, vibrant, and determined woman. She had a sparkle about her that you couldn’t dull even if you tried. The love, laughs and memories that Barbara created with the people that she loved will live on in the many stories they will continue to tell with a smile on their face laughing about how funny and full of life she was.

Predeceased by her husband, Robert A. Dees, parents, Norman and Evelyn Leip, sister, Linda Bailey, brother, Norman (Roger) Leip, son in law, Russell Downes, and partner, Attilio “John” Vegessi; Barbara is survived by son, Robert Dees and wife Lynn of New Smyrna Beach; daughters, Lewan Downes and Lori Koptcho and husband George, all of Blackwood, New Jersey; four granddaughters, Alyson and husband Michael, Lauren, Meaghan, and Julia; four great grandchildren, Jordan, Charlotte, Makenzie, and Bennett, Sister in law, Nora Leip and her many nieces, and nephews.

Her love and laughter will be dearly missed by all of her loved ones and close friends.

A remembrance and celebration of Barbara’s life will be held privately for the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barbara’s name to Friends of the New Smyrna Beach Library.

Barbara Norma Dees

Sunrise 7/23/1937 – Sunset 8/30/2025 

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