It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce that Debbie Donahue, 68, passed away on November 8, 2024, in hospice. She was surrounded by family after a long and impressive fight with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She was a loving mother, sister, aunt, “gammie”, life partner, and friend to many. She will be missed very dearly by everyone.
Debbie was born in Racine, Wisconsin to Raymond Marcuseen and Gertrude Bergmark on March 14, 1956. She was the oldest of 4, lived in Antioch, Illinois and graduated from Antioch Communtiy High School in 1974. After graduating high school, she got a job at Baxter Healthcare where she met Thomas Donahue and they wed in 1979 and had two children Branden and Ryanne. In 1989, they got divorced. Debbie and the kids then moved to Lake Villa, Illinois. Debbie met Bob Surman in 1995. The two lived many places together including Antioch, IL; New Orleans, LA; and finally landed in a 55 and older community in Clearwater, FL in 2017. Debbie was now retired and enjoyed the sun and the beaches, as well as days in the pool with all her new friends.
Debbie loved going to the clubhouse for all the activities they held. She loved doing the arts and crafts, the holiday parties, and all the gatherings with their friends in the community. She was loved by everyone in her community, and will be missed. She loved to spend every Sunday down with her friends for Sunday dinner. For her last couple years of life, she could be seen outside doing diamond paintings everyday the Florida weather permitted. She especially loved spending time with and seeing her kids and granddaughter. She was also very passionate about rescuing animals and had lots of rescue pets that she loved like her own children.
Debbie is proceeded in death by her father Raymond, her stepfather Andy, her mother Trudy, and her brother David. She is survived by her life partner Bob, her children Branden and Ryanne, her daughter-in-law Julie, her granddaughter Justiss, her beloved sister Andrea Haselow and her sister Carol Hagi.
Debbie will be deeply missed and forever remembered. May she rest in eternal peace, free from pain, and may her memory continue to bring comfort to those who mourn her passing.
In honor of Debbie, think of her while sipping on a Long Island during the sunset or find yourself immersed in diamond paintings.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Antioch, Illinois.
3 Responses
Love you and miss you so much sister! You were an amazing sister, always there for me from the time I was a little girl. So hard not to be able to talk to you for hours on end, like we have done my entire life. You live in my heart forever.
Debbie (mom) changed my life and guided me into my own motherhood. She took me on as her own and I saw her as my mom after losing my own so young. The things she did to help me succeed parenting her Granddaughter (her sugar) went well beyond anything any ex of someone’s son could ever have hoped for. She reluctantly accepted me at first and we spent the following 20 years building and mother daughter bond that will always been unique, special, & irreplaceable to me. I was fortunate enough to get to tell her how much she meant to me and how grateful I am for her during our last convo days before her passing. The world lost a light but she gave me a LIFE TIMES WORTH OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND GUIDANCE. She fostered and nurtured a relationship between my daughter and I that could never have reached the lengths it has without her. Her suffering in the end was hard to see. I’m so grateful she is at peace now and choose to believe shes with us every min of every day. I’ll always love you mom-
Love ‘’mama Julie”
Debbie and bob i met at regency heights and i am so happy they came into my life. Debbie was always fun to be around and she was good at winning whateva she touched. I will miss her dearly and i am very happy i was with her right before she went into hospice. Love you deb and peace be with you, you are going to be a great angel love pattycakes.