Barbara Hill Obituary

Barbara Hill, 87, of Brick, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 17, 2025, with loved ones by her side.

Barbara was born January 3 rd , 1938 in California and later moved to New Jersey, where she grew up in Maywood and attended high school in Bogota. She pursued her passion for fashion at Traphagen School of Design, where she later taught fashion design before transitioning to a career in New York City’s fashion district. Barbara was a talented designer, creating and modeling many of her own dresses, earning recognition and winning several prestigious fashion awards.

One of her most cherished adventures was traveling to California with her best friend, Lorraine. They flew on one of the first commercial jet planes, marking an exciting milestone in aviation history. During that trip, Barbara met her first husband, Albert Hill.

They lived in California for a short time with their first son, Steven, before returning to New Jersey to be closer to family. They settled in Waldwick, where they welcomed their daughter, Sharon. In 1970, they moved to Brick, where Barbara would reside for more than five decades.

In 1980, she married her second husband, Richard Davison, and together they built a life in the Laurelbrook community of Brick until his passing in 2006. Barbara and Richard shared a passion for travel, exploring beautiful destinations such as Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Hawaii. She especially treasured trips to Colorado, where she spent precious time with her beloved granddaughter, Sondra Mahana.

A devoted mother, Barbara dedicated much of her life to raising her children. As they grew older, she reignited her passion for design, establishing Creative Interiors on Brick Boulevard, where she helped bring beauty into the homes of many clients.

She successfully ran her business until retiring at age 70 and held a Presidency title in the ISID (International Society of Interior Design)

Barbara was known for her kindness, strength, and selflessness—always willing to lend a hand or give the shirt off her back to someone in need.

She had a deep love for animals, cherishing the time she spent with her pets and finding joy in observing wildlife. One of her favorite pastimes was gazing out her window, watching the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks play.

Another trait was her outstanding vocabulary from studying the vocabulary section of every Readers Digest. She would always blurt out such dramatic words for the simplest situations. Such as: “That’s Barbaric!” “Preposterous!” Her playful use of language brought laughter and warmth to those around her.

Barbara is predeceased by her parents, Everill and Mary Eleanor Birks; her son, Steven Hill; her sisters, Virginia Gamble and Louise Marra; her niece, Mary Gamble; her nephew, Joseph Marra; and her second husband, Richard Davison.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Sharon Mahana (David Thorne); her cherished granddaughter, Sondra Mahana, and Sondra’s father, Kenneth Mahana Sr.; as well as extended step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her nephew, Charles Marra (Peg) and their family, along with many other relatives and dear friends who will forever hold her memory close to their hearts.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation was private. A burial ceremony will take place at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ, on Saturday, April 5, at 1:30 PM. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, June 29, 2025 at 1:00pm at the family's home.  Please contact the family for further information. Colonial Funeral Home, Brick, is handling arrangements.