I cannot believe it has been one year already since Debbie passed. I miss her a lot and hold her laughter in my heart bc she could make me laugh so hard. I know you all are missing her today also. Sending lots of love to all her family and friends. Love you all the way to the stars Deb. 

Cat

I have spent the last few weeks since learning of Debbie's passing, revisiting and basking in my many sweet memories of her and the time we shared.  Ours was a friendship born from our mutual interests as mothers raising boys in Essex,  and grew from quick visits  during kid pickups and drop-offs into longer chats over tea with the time and openness for discussing our greatest joys, hopes, expectations, concerns, and fears, and expanding further when we enthusiastically added all things feminie to our discussions once our beloved daughters joined our family mixes.   Ultimately our friendship blossomed into a close, and dearly held kind of kinship, where Debbie's friends and family became my friends and family, and my friends and family became hers, with both of us sharing the joys and successes and bemoaning the failures and losses that both families experienced.  We sat together at kids' sporting events, shared logistics and worries about kids' driving and adventures, and discussed and advised when things were or weren't going well.  Debbie was wise and caring, and she became my go to when I needed solid, honest advice, and she always delivered.  As the years passed, we attended the Evans childrens' weddings, and two of my children asked that Debbie officiate at theirs, and we proudly rejoiced at  the arrival of each of our grandchildren.  I fondly remember how a few years ago, Debbie called and wanted me to come over specifically to see Paige, who was home on a brief visit, so that Paige could show me her ring, and tell me herself how she was in love, engaged, and exited to share her wedding plans.  I so valued that Debbie saw Paige's enthusism and good news, as mine too.  That was so Debbie.

I and my family were by far not the only ones  blessed with such a warm and welcoming place in the heart of Debbie's family and home.  The more that Debbie valued someone or something, the more she was driven to share it.  She took no greater pleasure than to open her home that was rich with photos, and tokens  of all things significant to her family's life, both past and present, with favorite foods in special bowls and platters spread on the table, or tea in pretty, delicate cups, or cookies on fancy plates, and Ed mixing drinks.  The rented house in Spain during Andy's wedding quickly became a warm, welcoming Evans home filled with laughter, and the smells of food cooking.  And of course, Christmas always included Christmas Eve at the Evans with Debbie's pumpkin rolls, and striped butter cookies, Ed's eggnog, and a trip upstairs to admire the huge and perfect Christmas tree laden with all of Debbie's favorite ornaments, including every decoration ever created by her children.  

I am profoundly saddened by Debbie's passing, and my heart goes out to her entire family at the difficulty of dealing with such a loss.  I will miss her presence terribly,  but I also feel so grateful to have had her in my life where I truly got to know her, and to benefit from her friendship, love, and wisdom.  Knowing her made me a better person.   Debbie was a true example of the power of full, wholehearted committment to whatever she undertook, be it lovingly officiating at a wedding, trying a new recipe, or giving personal tours to the State House so that others could witness the place and work of our government that she was so proud  and devoted.  Debbie did nothing halfheartedly.

My frienship with Debbie was full, rich, and immeasurably important to me, as are my memories of her.  She feels close whenever I have a glass of her favorite dry, red Merlot, (in an over-sized  stemmed goblet, of course), or when I happen upon a beautiful, quaint Christmas card with a wise, but smiling, rosy cheeked, good looking, old fashioned Santa.  Debbie will always come to mind with discussions of large Christmas stockings that need to be stuffed to overflowing with small individually wrapped trinkets and gifts; or beautiful yellow gold necklaces, and bracelets, and rubies, and custom made gold wedding rings, which are never to be taken off; red lipstick, and the same bee jelly that the queen uses to keep her skin soft; a room full of tall tapered, white candles, all real and lit, except just a few very real looking fake ones that she might catch (with a little snicker) a visitor trying to blow out; and gifts meticulously wrapped in ornate, festive paper and tied with huge, handmade, multi-looped tulle bows.  Oh, and nobody was more thrilled to give or recieve a gift than Debbie, who would literally glow, and give the tiniest little giggles during, and right after the entire unwrapping process.  Memories of Debbie's candle or Mary Kay parties, with a room full of chatty and laughing women and a huge Saint Bernard sound asleep up against the disply table, smack dab in the middle of the room, will always make me smile, as will Debbie's stories about the kids' year-long dig to China, resulting in the ever growing, very big, gaping hole which threatened to swallow the entire yard.  I loved our deep discussions, civilized disagreements, occasional eye rolls, and bouts of hearty laughter.  I've missed Debbie, and I'll continue to miss her, but boy am I ever fortunate to have had her in my life, with all her wisdom, caring,  and all those rich memories that she left behind.  Rest in peace, dear Debbie.   You are loved, you will be missed, and you will be remembered.

Terrible loss. Debbie was an extraordinary person so loving and caring. A remarkable woman.Love to her family and friends.

Alice Miller (former legislator)

Debbie  was my second cousin.  We were only a year apart.  Our families spent a lot of time together when I was younger.  Sadly,  as life does, we lost touch. Her obituary was so lovely and a testament to what a wonderful mother,  wife,  and friend she was.  Your family will be in our prayers. 

This picture was from a Christmas card, probably around 1958. It was signed '' Paul,  Doris,  and Debb. Ann''.

My wife Dolores and I so admired Debbie and Ed. All Americans should follow their example in love and living. 

 I am certain this is a major loss for Ed, the family and the community  I hope they can be strong by focusing on what they had, rather then what they have lost   Peter and Dolores norris

So many happy memories!

When we arrived in Vermont in early 1991, in the middle of a particularly cold winter, we knew few people here and we had an empty rental house (all of our stuff from England was delayed by Desert Storm restrictions). Debbie and Ed welcomed us into their hearts, their home and their family. To this day, our little branch of the West family feels inextricably, gratefully and proudly, a part of the Evans family.

Debbie was smart, funny, lively and loving. After her family, her greatest love was probably Christmas – "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" could have been one of her theme songs!

One of our fondest and abiding memories was the annual pilgrimage to find "The Christmas Tree", an expedition we were happy to be a part of for many years. We would set off together to the Vermont countryside in search of what had to be, for Debbie, the perfect Christmas tree, worthy of a place of honor in the Evans home. Debbie would frantically worry that someone else had already found and taken that tree. Ed would gently, but incessantly, tease her on the subject – for instance, if we passed a car with a tree on the roof, Ed would quietly suggest that the perfect tree had already been snatched up by strangers. This ploy would always increase Debbie's anxiety and, as we neared our tree hunting grounds, the level of tension would steadily increase.

We would wander the "forest" of neatly ordered trees and Debbie would find some reason why any particular tree wasn't quite the right one. She would begin to despair that Ed's predictions were indeed true when we'd suddenly come upon a likely prospect, an almost worthy candidate for the honor of being the Evans' Christmas Tree for that year. We would carefully try to memorize the exact location of that prospect before setting off in search of a better candidate. Suddenly our portion of the "forest" seemed to be full of perfect trees and the problem became how to make a choice. Eventually, despite well-intentioned comments and advice from all present, Debbie would decide which tree she wanted and Ed dutifully lay down in the snow (sometimes mud) to cut down the tree.

The tree would be hauled out of the "forest" and ultimately onto the roof rack to begin the journey home. En route, Debbie would still be concerned that she might have missed a better tree and she was generally calmed by assurances that the tree above us was exactly right. The chosen tree was always quite large and required hauling into the house, only to discover it was too tall and required adjustment, usually involving another saw cut.

Debbie, every year, the tree you chose was perfect in every way because you chose it with so much love and attention!

Debbie, we love you and will always miss you.

Jane, Mike and the whole West family.

Dear Evans and Goga family,

It took my breath away to hear of Debbie’s passing! Skip and I are so sorry! Debbie was such a bright light~full of strength, vigor and positive energy. She always made me laugh! From our first meeting I couldn’t believe how much we had in common. Debbies from West  Newton’s (she was from PA and I was from MA), speech pathologists and being married in 1975 a week apart. And of course so many wonderful times spent together on Greenfield Road! I think our family was continually at #53 for the eleven years we lived next door. Our favorite  was Christmas Eve. It was magical as we all felt Debbie’s wonderful spirit! Our last Christmas Eve there was 2005 before we moved to the cape. I remember we were the last to leave knowing it might be our last  in Vermont and we just didn’t want the night to end! Time and moves made us grow apart but Debbie’s friendship, making memories with our children and families and our happy times spent together will forever be in my heart! I loved her appreciation of music, your cozy house, watching old movies like “Topper” and most of all her incredible commitment to family! Her fabulous legacy will live on through all of you! 

Our love and deepest condolences to all of you! 

Skip and Debbie Novak

There aren’t any words to express how heartbroken I feel at Debbie’s passing. During our years together in the legislature, I became aware that there is not a more elegant, caring, thoughtful and generous person that I have known. I do and will continue to miss her beautiful smile, wise counsel, and intellect. The stars in heaven will shine brighter now with Debbie’s presence.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Lovingly,

Donna Sweaney and Bill Ballantyne

So many memories including swim lessons with donuts for all the kids, the line of kids waiting for the bus in Debbie's driveway with Mason on patrol, morning bikes rides with a stop for coffee, cub scout meetings, neighborhood craft group and of course Mary Kay parties!  Her Christmas parties were a part of the holiday tradition for so many.  She truly made a difference with her work as a state representative.  Sending deepest sympathy to Ed, her kids and grandchildren.  She will be remembered.

1. I was so sorry to learn of Deb's death. We were districtmates in the Vermont Legislature for 11 years, and while we were of different political parties, we remained friends. We had lunches during the off-session. In the Legislature we worked together to honor local organizations, high school sports teams and scholastic stars, and many contributing members of the Essex community. When Deb retired from the Legislature, I missed seeing her everyday at the Vermont State House. Rest in Peace, Deb. Your contributions to your community will be remembered.

My heartfelt condolences to Debbie’s family during this sad time.  I have known Debbie for years while living in Essex.   Such an engaging women with a bright personality and presence.  She was always quick to smile and spark a lively conversation.  Debbie will be truly missed. 

Best regards,  

Susan L. Pinto