Debbie grew up in Citrus Heights, attending Arlington Heights Elementary, Sylvan Junior High and San Juan High schools. She enjoyed anything that involved her grandparents, especially camping near Sierra City; Christmas Eve celebrations with the Howard family; vacations to New York to play with her Samonek cousins; family ski trips; and competitive swimming. She began swimming for the Sunrise Sharks at four, shining in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events and winning many blue ribbons. Eventually she coached the six and unders with her sister and became the aquatics director at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club. At San Juan she was yearbook editor both her junior and senior years and emceed and organized rallies as part of student council during her senior year.

 

Debbie met her soulmate, Obie, at 18 at Sierra College and never looked back. Debbie attended Louisiana State University with Obie, where she fell in love with art and rooting for (and tailgating for) the Fighting Tigers. She returned to the Sacramento area, graduating from Sacramento State summa cum laude, with a B.A. in Art. Debbie worked at Allstate Insurance, becoming a stay-at-home mom after the birth of her first daughter, Audrey, in 2003, and welcoming baby Grace two years later.

 

A gifted artist and swimmer, Debbie’s greatest accomplishment was her family. Debbie put her heart and soul into her girls, as their protector, their teacher, their stylist, and their greatest admirer. She lovingly served as room mom and was a dedicated classroom volunteer, using her creativity and organizational skills to plan enviable classroom parties. She was the girls’ unofficial swim coach and loved cheering for them at Saturday morning swim meets. She often said that all she ever wanted was to be a mom. It is the most difficult job there is, and she excelled at it.

 

Debbie also treasured and cultivated the close bond she shared with her parents and sister, dubbed the “circle of trust,” which came to encompass husbands and kids. She instituted the annual post-Thanksgiving family Christmas tree hunt when Audrey was born; insisted on early, day-long, footache-inducing Christmas shopping, followed by dinner and wine at IlFo; and spearheaded most family get-togethers.

 

Through the years she maintained childhood friendships and made new friends through Allstate and later through her daughters’ activities. Debbie enjoyed connecting with other moms at play group, school events, gymnastics, and birthday parties and chatting with friends under her pop-up tent between swimming events. She valued the friendships (and girls’ nights out) that blossomed from those activities.

 

A four-year, fiercely fought battle with breast cancer took her body but not her spirit. Until the very end, she was the same unbelievably positive, loving, family-first person she had always been. She will be missed and remembered every day.