Deborah Stoner

As her family and friends can attest, Deborah Stoner truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a constant source of strength for those around her, even in the most difficult of times, and she tirelessly supported her loved ones in ways both great and small. A beloved daughter, sister, niece, and cousin, Debbie treasured her family members and always considered herself blessed to be surrounded by so many relatives. She cherished whatever time she could spend with her loved ones no matter what they were doing. Debbie was known to be very loyal and generous, and she was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others. Never afraid to speak up and be heard, she was passionate about what she treasured. Deeply loved, Debbie will be forever missed.

With the end of WWII in 1945, America was making the shift to being a nation at peace once again. Rationing had become a thing of the past, and the baby boom was underway. It was during this exciting transitional time that Gerald and Mary Ann Stoner were filled with some excitement of their own as they were eagerly anticipating the birth of their new baby as winter appeared on the horizon in November of 1949, in Detroit, Michigan. Their wait was over on November 27th when the baby girl they named Deborah Ann drew her first breath.

Growing up, Debbie was a typical young girl of her generation in many ways. She was raised in the family home alongside her two younger siblings, Thomas and Eileen. Debbie thrived in the role of big sister, and throughout her childhood she formed very deep and meaningful relationships with her siblings. Though the siblings had their arguments, they were always there for each other when it truly mattered. Debbie loved roller skating at the Dearborn Civic Center, and over the years she got to be quite the expert at it. She enjoyed a wonderful childhood and was able to build a firm foundation of character that would serve her well for her entire life.

From a young age, Debbie learned to commit herself to success in everything that she put her mind to. She attended various schools throughout her school years, including St. Boniface School, St. Vincent School, Franklin School in Detroit, Woodworth Junior High School, and Fordson High School in Dearborn. During her teenage years and beyond, Debbie liked to spend her free time attending clubs and concerts hosted by local bands. She was also an avid Detroit Tigers fan and loved the Beatles, even attending their concert at Olympia Stadium in 1964. Debbie went on to graduate from Fordson in 1967, ready to move on to bigger and better things.

Following her graduation, Debbie began working at the S. S. Kresge store on Schaefer Avenue in Dearborn, Michigan. In 1969, she was hired by Michigan Bell Telephone Company to work as a data entry clerk. Debbie would continue to work for the company for the next 31 years, creating a flourishing career for herself. She survived various mergers and company downsizing efforts, proving herself to be a valuable worker who could truly withstand the test of time. As she often did, Debbie devoted herself to her career and worked tirelessly for those 31 years. Her dedication was recognized in April of 1990 when she was given the well-earned position of Staff Manager, Payroll, and Personnel Administration. Debbie retired in 2000 at the age of 51.

Thanks to her hard work and devotion to her career, Debbie was able to purchase four beautiful houses throughout her lifetime. She loved to organize and decorate, and she would always enjoy settling in and making those houses into homes. Debbie enjoyed shopping whenever she could, and she would often find new pieces of decor to put around the home. She collected Hummels, angels, Jim Shore, Dickens’ Christmas Village, snowmen, and Santas. Debbie would decorate for all holidays, but she especially loved putting up Christmas decorations and getting into the festive spirit.

Of all the things Debbie loved in life, she treasured her family members and friends above all else. She was a loving and loyal daughter and sister, and her loved ones were the most important things in her life. For years, Debbie would visit her mother and father every Sunday. She loved to go shopping with her sister, Elieen, and the two would often have dinner with Mom, Dad and Tom. Debbie enjoyed attending all of the extended family gatherings, and she truly loved having such a large family tree. Over the years she shared a very special and personal bond with each member of her family. All who knew Debbie can certainly agree, she was overjoyed to welcome her little dog, Max, into her heart and home. She fell in love with him instantly and always took such good care of him. Max would accompany Debbie on vacations, and he liked to sit on her lap most of the time.

Never one to sit still for long, Debbie pursued several hobbies in her free time. She loved traveling the world, and she was able to visit many beautiful places, including Mexico, England, and Hawaii. Later in life, Debbie owned an RV with her husband at the time, Dexter. The two of them traveled across the country together. Debbie always looked forward to family camping trips where the aunts, uncles, and cousins would all meet up at a campground and spend a long weekend together. She enjoyed power shopping, and she was often known to replace or upgrade household items, even if they were close to brand new. Debbie, always a very generous woman, would then give the barely used items to her family members and friends. She was a constant supporter of various fundraisers, especially those for the local schools.

When reflecting on the life of Deborah Stoner, it is easy to see her unwavering strength and her unconditional love for her family. She was well known for her spirit of generosity, and she poured her heart into everything that she did. Debbie was a shining example of service and charity, and she blessed the lives of so many throughout her life. Though Debbie will be deeply missed, she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

Deborah Ann Stoner of Livonia passed away April 1, 2022 at the age of 72. She was born November 27, 1949 in Detroit, Michigan to Gerald and Mary Ann Stoner. Cherished sister of the late Thomas Stoner and Eileen Stoner. Beloved niece of Kathleen Arbini, Martin Cavinaw, and Dennis (Sue) Cavinaw. Dear cousin of Madge Fadool. She is also survived by many other cousins and friends. Deborah was predeceased by her parents. Visitation Tuesday, April 5, 2022 from 3 to 8 pm with a Scripture service at 5:30 pm at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48154. Instate Wednesday, April 6, 2022 from 10:30 am until time of Mass at 11 am at St. Kateri Catholic Church, 16101 Rotunda Dr., Dearborn, Michigan 48120. Interment will take place at St. Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Capuchins or St. Kateri Catholic Church.