Debra Josephine Nissen (Gordy) died and went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, at her childhood home in National City, California. She was 58 years old.

She was born in San Diego, California on Christmas Eve, 1962, to John and Josephine (Vidales) Gordy, joining her big brother, John Gordy Jr., at the family’s National City home. 

Salvador Adona later married Josephine and co-raised Debra in the loving family.

She graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1981 with a Bachelors of Arts in education from San Diego State University in 1990. She was active in her church and loved working with children at the Boys and Girls Club. 

In 1990 She was united in marriage to Christopher Nissen, at Balboa Park in San Diego. During their 31-years of marriage they moved many times to places including U. S. Virgin Islands, Washington D.C., St. Paul, MN and Mexico City, Mexico and retired to Mora, MN in 2016. 

Among her favorite adventures was living on a small horse farm and taking her kids to riding competitions at several Minnesota counties. 

In 2013, while living in Mexico City, Mexico, she was diagnosed with dementia.  Her cognitive skills declined steadily during the next years. In late 2021, the disease began affecting her organs. She sunsetted in under eight weeks. 

Her final wish was to see her brother and family in San Diego. She, her husband and children made a last family road trip from Minnesota to San Diego. 

Finally home, she had several periods of lucidity, able to visit with her brother, his wife their children and grandchildren and many life long friends. 

Two days later, she peacefully and comfortably, in the presence of her husband and brother, took a last breath and slipped away. 

Our hearts will never forget. 

 She was proceeded in death by father, John; mother, Josephina; step-father, Salvador; and brother Juan Manuel. Survived by husband, Christopher; their children, Miranda, Andreas and Lauralynne; brother, John (Catalina) and their children, Johanna, Jolynne, Jeremiah their spouses and children; step-siblings, Rosita (Lee) Helen (Oirbello), Joyce (Jones), Salvador Jr.,  Gabriel, Sandra (Nakata), Jackie (Lund), Pat, Marissa (Del Rosario) ; uncles, aunts, cousins, other, relatives and many many friends. 

Cremated; her memorial occured in Chula Vista Bay Park, San Diego Bay, California August 7, 2022. 

We are grateful to all that touched her in her life. 

And grateful to the National City Police Department, National City Fire Department and San Diego County Trauma Intervention Program Specialist, who provided much appreciated support to her family the night she passed.

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