Deborah Goga Evans passed away during the early morning hours of September 3rd, 2021. She was within the comfort of her own beloved home and in the company of the love of her life Edward Kelley Evans. Debbie was born in the town of McKeesport, PA on July 27, 1952 to Doris (Arva) Goga and Paul Valentine Goga. She married her highschool sweetheart Ed Evans on June 28th 1975. They were both raised in West Newton, PA. Their first date was on Valentines Day 1970, when Ed gave Debbie a bottle of Heaven Sent perfume. They have lived in Essex Green off of River Road, in Essex Vermont since 1975, raising children, saint bernards and one shar-pei. Debbie and Ed have four children: Paul Edward Evans and wife Denby (Oregon), Andrew Kelley Evans and wife Zurine (California), Don Patton Evans and wife Rebecca (New York), and Paige Elizabeth Haxton-Evans and husband Nicholas (Oregon). They also have nine grandchildren: Helen Mae, Guenevere, Mary, Nathan, Oliver, Henry, Haizea, Eneko, and Freda. Debbie has two younger sisters: Melanie Goga and partner Craig Berthiaume, and Julianne Goga and wife Cathryn Blanchard, and their son Jackson Goga-Blanchard (all in Vermont). Debbie was a Speech and Language Pathologist by profession (Bachelor’s of Science degree from Carlow College), working in PA, NY and Vermont. She was a past recipient of the Essex Educator’s Association Award and served on the Essex Board of Civil Authority. She was a State Representative for the Town of Essex in the Vermont House from 2005 to 2016 where she served on the Government Operations Committee for twelve years including a term as Vice Chair. She also served as a Justice of the Peace helping to unite hundreds of couples.

Debbie is remembered for her social nature, her love of talking on the phone with friends, shoes, jewelry, makeup and accessories. Families from Greenfield Rd in the 1980’s will remember Debbie and Ed’s presence attending and hosting parties in that close-knit neighborhood. Their doors were always open on Christmas Eve for decades of parties with a house full of whoever showed up for Debbie’s party food and Ed’s eggnog. To Debbie, Christmas celebrations were foundational and she held the spirit of Christmas in her heart all year round. Picking out her annual Christmas card was one of Debbie’s favorite things to do. The memories of those and other holiday traditions will live on amongst family. Holidays consisted of traditional meals, some passed on from Hungarian ancestry including paprikas with nokedli and beigli poppyseed rolls. Her home was filled with music at all hours of the day, familiar albums her children can list off by memory. Her home was lit with candles every evening to create glowing and comforting spaces. She loved gardenias and lilacs, especially when they were picked for her by her husband. In her early years as a parent, Debbie was an avid bicyclist, and spent her time sewing, quilting and decorating. She collected woven baskets and Santa Clauses. She was also an avid reader with floor to ceiling libraries of books which she prized. She served as a Trustee at the Essex Free Library and believed that everyone should treasure a good book in their hands. She also served on the Essex Rotary. Debbie also had a long list of beloved movies, watched repetitively and valued for some of the best movie dialogue, which she could recite by memory. One of her favorites was Harvey: “Years ago my mother used to say, she’d say, ‘In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.”

Debbie was fierce about her family and community, particularly her children, supporting and protecting them at all costs. She was also headstrong and determined, teaching her children never to settle for less than what they thought they deserved, and to have dignity in everything they pursue. She loved to be first in line and prized a good parking spot. Debbie has always been extremely in love and devoted to her husband Ed. “When I was asking for advice about becoming a new mother”, her daughter explained, “one of my mom’s major points of advice was that when you become a mother, prioritize your husband, find time to yourselves, and never forget why you love each other.” 

There will not be a traditional funeral service for Debbie but to help her family and friends grieve and celebrate her life, there is a request for memories, loving comments, and pictures/videos to be added to her memorial website.   https://everloved.com/life-of/deborah-evans/     (If you are viewing the website from your mobile device, please swipe left on the main photo to see more photos.  And on a mobile device, the site is most viewable from the “About” page.) 

In lieu of flowers, in Debbie’s name, please send donations by check to the Essex Free Library at: 1 Browns River Road, Essex VT 05452. 

Lastly, with every memory of Debbie, remember to hold the spirit of Christmas in your heart all year round, devote yourself to your partners, protect your family, and find ways to accessorize and bring glamour to your life. 

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