Debra Lee Stewart's Obituary
Debra Lee Stewart, a beloved daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend,
passed away on July 22, 2024, at the age of 68 in Hudson, Florida. Born on July 5, 1956, in Lancaster, PA, she was the eldest of her two siblings, Tom and Sherry. Debra would often enjoy putting together puzzles, especially the challenging ones that tested her skills. She had a great appreciation for music, with a particular love for country artists such as George Strait and Ronnie Milsap, as 12:30 - Lunch well as the soulful sounds of Motown. Football was her favorite sport, as she never missed a game, turning Super Bowl nights with her family into a special tradition. You could always be sure that at 1pm Monday – Friday she was watching Days of Our Lives and by 2pm she would be on the phone with her daughter as they talked about each episode together. No matter what she was doing or where she was at, you could find her dog, Elvis, named after her father Joseph’s favorite musician, stuck to her side like glue as the pair had an inseparable bond. Her proudest moments were becoming a mother and grandmother. She once said “I wouldn’t change a thing, because we have all we need. That’s family.” She adored her daughter Valerie and her husband Phillip, who together created a beautiful family of four. She watched her daughter find a career in which she loved and took pride in as an exceptional and highly respected teacher with a passion for special needs children. As a mother, she couldn’t have dreamed of the relationship she would share over the years with Valerie. It’s something rare and beautiful that their relationship went beyond mother-daughter but also best friends until the end. When Phillip and Aja were born, they gave her a new badge of honor not only as grandmother, but as their Meme. Growing up, they would often spend every other weekend at her house for sleepovers. To this day the three have never forgotten and often reminisce on their memories of going around town, frequent amusement park trips and most importantly pranks they played on each other. Each of these days would end in watching movies they rented from Blockbuster accompanied by Slim Jims & a Wonder Ball candy for each of them. She became proud of her grandson Phillip when he grew up to have a hard work ethic that launched him into a lasting & successful life. The most special moment she experienced as his Meme was witnessing him find love in his wife, Lindsay, who brought her first and only great-grandchild, Braxton into their lives. Deb could be heard cheering on Aja whether it be at dance recitals or sports games. She had fun watching Aja turn into a fierce basketball player who would always “get in there and try to take the ball.” As fiery as she could be at times, it was no secret though that she had a deep compassion for others at a young age. This eventually led to her career in healthcare that would leave a proud Meme bragging about to others. Debra is survived by her mother Shirley, sister Sherry, niece Crystal,
daughter Valerie, son-in-law Phillip, and grandchildren Phillip and Aja. She will be remembered for her love for her family, friends, and of course, her fun, sarcastic wit that will forever be cherished and missed by all.
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