Deborah Ann Stern

Deborah Ann Stern died on September 28, 2025 after a 10-month-long battle with lymphoma. She was 70. She fought bravely, like the warrior we all knew her to be, with good humor and kindness towards all the people around her. She was kind and sweet even in the worst time of her life. She leaves behind her husband Dave, her brothers-in-law Mike (wife Laura, son Tom) and Jon (wife Patricia, daughter Lydia, and son Dominic). Also her beloved cats Johnny Handsome and Stevie Nicks, both of whom lived on the street and adopted us. We all miss her.

She is gone from us too soon. In life, she was known for her ability to make her own fun, her love for her friends, and her quest to spread love to the people she cared about. She could talk to anybody, regardless of age or social status. This talent helped her make many friends, at work during her long career at ExxonMobil, at Dash and Dynamo soccer games, where she was an avid season-ticket holder, at exercise class, and while she was pursuing her love of bold fashion, jewelry, and glamor. She was diligent about maintaining friendships - even in the last months of her life, she was sending birthday cards to her friends. She kept her friends for a long time - her friendships were often decades long - and she was still making new friends in her retirement years. She loved to entertain - sharing a meal with friends was another way of showing them she loved them. Often her love of film and music was a vehicle for bonding with friends - her knowledge of pop culture was encyclopedic. She also collected: jewelry, trollbeads, beanie babies, CD's, also fodder for conversations with friends. In December and beyond, our house looked like the Christmas factory exploded and the result landed in our house. And she shared it with everybody.

Debbie made a lifelong practice of cultivating and maintaining friendships. Truly a gift to the world. Hers was an amazing life, lived well. I know we will all miss her, but we will never forget her. I hope we can all strive to enjoy life as much as she did, and to love our friends and family the way she did.