Deborah Rose

Deborah Rose was born to teenage parents in Florida on March 16, 1959. After her mother later married, Debbie spent her early years in Louisiana before moving to Indiana. As an adult, she lived in Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, Oregon, and Washington before settling in Ohio in 2017. She particularly loved living in the Pacific Northwest.

At school, she excelled in academics, while becoming a champion swimmer and pianist. Circumstances prevented her from pursuing her dream of becoming a concert pianist, but she enjoyed a lifelong love of music. She was known for her debating skills and sharp wit.

As she pursued part-time college studies, she relied on her organizational and administrative skills to forge a career at Sears and Indiana University. Her concern for the victims of domestic abuse led her to seek a master’s in social work that prepared her to help abused women and troubled teens.

At an early age, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that made pain her daily companion as she balanced work and school. By her mid-50s, she left the full-time workplace but continued to share her insights, wit, and wisdom with friends, colleagues, and others who suffer with chronic pain on social media. She loved fiercely and was a strong advocate for those in need.

An Irish redhead, she was proud of both her heritage and her hair. Though she loved smoking, she gave it up last year. I imagine that she has looked up John Prine in the afterlife to enjoy one of his nine-mile long cigarettes.

Debbie was a person with many interests, with a wide circle of friends to match. She loved Doctor Who (especially the David Tennant era), Stephen King books, true crime series, Project Runway, bands, political discussions, recipes, sarcasm, and good grammar.

While she dreamt of living out her last days in a tiny cottage in Ireland, her body betrayed her. Shortly after midnight on February 14, 2026, Debbie succumbed to a long illness in Willoughby, OH.

She leaves to mourn a large Facebook community of chronic pain warriors, former workplace and school colleagues, and Carol Farrish, friend, housemate, and caregiver in her last days. May she rest in peace.