Our Wife/Mom/GG is an incredible woman. If you made your way to this page you made your way to Debby's heart. There is not one person she has encountered that she did not make some sort of impact on. Thank you to every single person who impacted our mom/wife's life in return.
We know she has so many people who's lives she has touched. We ask that in lieu of flowers, below in the "leave a note" section, you share with us your favorite memory/memories or simply write something. That is the gift that keeps on giving for all of us....simply priceless. Please upload and share with us as many pictures or videos as you would like of you and her or even just her. That would mean the world to us. We have plenty as well we have and will continue to upload to share with you. We need YOU to help up put hundreds more on this ongoing tribute.
Debby is such an inspiration to us. She truly is a fighter!! Her battle was a long one. She has been battling Ovarian Cancer for 6 years and 9 months. The average life expectancy is 5 years from time of diagnosis for her illness. The past year has been the hardest for her and our family. Watching this disease truly surface in a way it didn't the first 5 years has been heartbreaking. Her first 5 years while battling was life changing but, she did not let cancer get in her way. She worked full time and later retired to care for her grandchildren full time (her dream job).
Ovarian Cancer is called the silent killer for a reason. It's mostly detected at Stage 3 as it was for her. Her best advice after going through this to all the women out there is listen to your body!
We are so grateful for the last 6 years and 9 months. We knew this journey would end at some point and we feel very strongly that we treasured every day and every moment! Her memory will live in our hearts FOREVER! Please visit this site as often as you like or simply when you miss her as it will be active forever. This site is for all of us to enjoy as we mourn a simply incredible woman.
Much Love and Fish Kisses,
Bob, Mandi, Corey, Brad, Robyn, Bryan, Jackson, and Chase
Lou
still a hole in my heart. i know you're okay where you are because
Sooky is with you and you both can be at peace.
couldn't have loved you more dear sister/friend.
Happy Heavenly Birthday!
No one but you calls me Carolkins ...I miss you sooo much. I will never forget how you made me feel as if...I was part of your family.
My Mom passed last year...this month will be 1 yr. She knew you...cause I spoke soo much about you. Only good things of course.. I told her about your Pool she loved it.
I miss you and I will see you again.
Happy Birthday.
Give everyone my love.
i know how proud you are of your family and that your light continues to shine upon them wherever they are. i am grateful that i have posts from Mandi, your "clone", as she goes on without your physical presence, but not without your extraordinary spirit. You've left your loving mark on all of us.
On that last visit, you told me that you would listen for my voice and do your best to answer. I feel you but I still miss you so much. I pray for your peace and am grateful to have been your brother.
I miss you and really would love to talk to you these days.
Please stay close to us all. We need your love and smiles.
Happy birthday
Lou
You are always in my heart.
Thank you for guiding the surgeons hands last week and making sure I was OK.
I love you forever.
We miss you tons and we know you're in heaven watching out for all. I know because Jackson often speaks of you. We were all blessed when God put you in our lives. I always said you were the "little matchmaker." And, it was the best thing that could happen to our family...we love you, and miss you, see you again. Love, Margaret & Allen
I love you everyday and miss you constantly. Please watch over all of us, as you always did.
Lou
Happy Birthday to my Mama, my best friend, my heart, my reason for being. Today, I choose to "try" to celebrate your birth not mourn your death. Today, I choose to thank god you were born 67 years ago to be able to bless so many people's lives over the span of your life. It's no wonder Nanny named your middle name Joy. The amount of JOY you brought to this world in your short time here is immeasurable. You have touched so many lives and you gave me life. Today, I celebrate all you were, all you impacted, all you taught me, and all of the memories you gave me of having the best mom and friend in the world.. Not one second goes by that I don't miss you. If I had one birthday wish for you today it would be to hold your hand one last time. I love you my mamabear
Wishing you a very very Happy Birthday in heaven Sweet Lady!!
I think of you every single day, Deb...and I start to cry every time. For you. For all of us. Someday, I'll understand God's plan. For now, I just know I miss you, your laughter, your love. Hug everyone for me.
Jackson start school next week! Can you believe it? We put him in the school you suggested. No one would be more excited or more proud about this day then you. Hes so smart and so well-prepared because of you. Pop is doing a great job doing the things you would be doing with the boys. Jackson mentions you often. Keep watching over us! We love you
My heart is aching as I write this note. We were 11 years old when we first met. It was the summer of 1961 at the 'Y' day camp. I was very shy. You befriended me & that was the beginning of a long friendship. That same year my family moved to a new apartment & I changed schools. To my delight I was in your class and again you took me under your wing & made the transition easy. We were close friends right through high school. We would meet every morning and walk to school together. After high school we drifted. We went to different colleges- met new people.
We didn't reconnect until years later. I was pregnant with my first child Daniellle, you were living in Iselin with Bob, Mandy & Corey. After you moved to freehold time passed again. We were busy with work and kids.. But 3 years ago you reached out to me. You came back to New Jersey and made a point to stop and see me, even if it was for a quick hug. You made such an impact on so many people. I'm sorry so much time passed when we didn't see one another.
Your time here was too short. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of it. You will be deeply missed my friend .
In my almost 20 years as a police office, Debby is the only person that turned from a victim to a close personal friend of mine.
We'd always fight on the phone and laugh over her feeding the homeless, especially this one particular man. She would always go above and beyond to bring him food, even in the pouring rain. I told her how caring and CRAZY she was and she would even cloth him.
Debby knew it was dangerous, but her kindness and determination shielded her from that. She would tell me how great she felt to see her homeless man, especially when he'd smile and thank her.
One time Debby couldn't find her homeless man, only his shopping cart. So she called me and told me to look for him. A couple of days later, she looked though the shopping cart to find clues on his whereabouts. Debby kept looking for him for over a week, until he popped back up.
She was so excited and happy, that when she called me, she bragged that she found him first.
I enjoyed every conversation and text we had and especially seeing her for one last time in April and taking a photo with her. I will truly miss you my friend.
S.Regis
I can see and feel your smile. It was always there and with a big hug. We met infrequently over the years, and yet each time it was as if time had not passed. That warmth and acceptance were part of your DNA, inherited from you parents, my beloved Uncle Cy and Aunt Sooky. You always chose to show the bright side, even in these last years when you were battling a terrible disease. Our connection is from those early years when you were growing up on Keer Avenue. One small Deb memory: You were ten and I was fifteen: the family was sitting Shiva for your Dad. In the living room upstairs were many people, and tears. I don't recall whose idea this was, but you and I went down to the basement, and I decided (or was I conned into it?) to smoke a cigarette. I coughed; you were scared, and we put it out. I made you swear not to tell my mother. I few hours later, you did tell her. Looking back, sneaking a cigarette, and being mischievous must have been our way to get away from all the pain upstairs.
May your smile and fun loving sparkle continue to glow on all of us.
Love your Robbers
Impressions of Debby: very hard working, always striving to help support the family; fun-loving with many devoted friends; so generous, and always ready to help anyone in need. A strong woman, always "eshet hayil" (a woman of valor), and she was never stronger than the last 6+ years, as she lived with more love than most could hope for in a lifetime.
Debby is forever closest in age and spirit to her older brother Howard (my husband). They were there for each other at Oklahoma University, then the airline industry at Eastern, and finally her flight to the Heavens, where they fly together once again.
Debby was there for me in recent years and we had a shared sense of spirituality for our loved ones. We enjoyed sharing stories about specific signs and messages we encountered, and I know our shared sense will continue to grow stronger. These signs give us comfort that our loved ones are truly with us everyday.
I'm so grateful Debby was in my life. I love her and miss her so much.
Linda
I was thinking about how many times you told me the story of how Corey is such a genius. How he put the grill together when he was like 7 and when you woke up in the middle of the night and saw his lights on and when you went in his room he was building the the Taj Mahol out of Legos. I must have heard it a million times but I never cut you off because you would light up telling me. I love you for that. It probably was a nice little tower but your truth was it was a masterpiece. I miss you calling me Robbers. I miss you terribly.
I feel so fortunate to have had your Mom in my life. Yesterday was filled with so much LOVE at the Chapel.
I am so sorry that I was unable to join you after to celebrate Mom's life.
The lanterns and fireworks we're amazing.
You were all so lucky to have your Mom & she all of you.
Mom will Always remain a part of my life. She will be in my thoughts & in my heart.
Love
Fran (Franny)
Our first life was in NJ-- growing up as cousins- lucky to live close by --sharing tons of family and fun times. Then as adults - working, raising families, more good times.
Our second life was in Florida. Wow- how lucky Andy and I were to have Debby, Bob and one by one the Fish kids moving nearby once again. My parents always said how wonderful it was to have them so close- all the fun we had during our time in Florida. The Fishes have always been there for us in good times and bad.
Fav Deb story.... It was in the early 80's at Newark Airport on a hot August day. My flight was canceled. Andy had just dropped me off- I was stuck. No cell phones back then. I had to find a phone to leave a message to have Andy turn around and pick me up. Lucky enough to have booked on Eastern, I asked if Debby was working. After explaining the situation, Deb said, "I am off from work in 20 min., why don't you come to my house and we will have Andy pick you up!" After leaving a voicemail, we were on our way. It was a HOT steamy day. Deb rolled down the windows and we were on our way. My contacts were rolling around, my long hair blowing in the hot wind, tangling away. I felt awful for Debby thinking she doesn't have air conditioning during the summer. Never brought it up... just enjoyed her company while I was sweating, tangled and hoping my contacts wouldn't fall out. 26 years later in Florida on a HOT steamy day Debby picks me up to go on another great adventure. Debby rolls the windows down! As we are on the road, I had to say something. I couldn't believe her luck- not to have air conditioning working in Florida. I said, "Deb, I feel awful for you, you have no luck with cars and AC". She turned to me and said, "Of course I have air conditioning, who needs that, don't you just love the warm breeze and sunshine!" I tied up my hair, put my hand out the window feeling the wind and laughed to myself about that hot summer day in the 80's....That was Debby- loving nature, her giraffes, birds, monkeys, elephants and turtles. I saw life in a whole new way thru her eyes during our second life in Florida. Her love for her family and all those she met were amazing. My friends would meet her once and never stop talking about her!
Now there is a third life-- one without our Debby. She is smiling down on all of us -- those close to her know that she believed in "signs". May there be many "47's" and "74's" in our lives. xoxoxox
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Road Trip with Aunt Anne
I just had a flashback when I was 17 when me, you, and Aunt Anne drove from NJ to Florida. Aunt Anne was in the front seat and you were driving. She got frantic saying your name in North Carolina. As you replied "what's the matter?!" Aunt Anne replied " Oh I just wanted to make sure you were there I didn't see you". Got me laugh this morning
Always taking care of others
I was transferred back to our West Palm Beach store, once Debby found out she made a point to come visit me right away.
Debby worried I worked too hard taking care of everyone else and would often forget to even stop to eat lunch. She was going for treatment on Tuesdays and this beautiful person would stop by the showroom after her treatments to bring me lunch(subway sandwiches). She would make me stop and eat. SHe did this just about every week. I pleaded each week to let me take her to lunch, and she would say yeah next time. She had to make sure her Johnny was taken care of. So i'm very sorry everyone...I think I was her favorite! :)
To say i'm going to miss her is an under statement.She was one of the best I ever had the pleasure of knowing.She was kind, fun loving,and always made you feel very special. She was truly an amazing woman that touched many people's lives with her love for life.
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