September 29, 1958 – August 20, 2025

After a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, Debbie passed away at home in Carbondale, Colorado on August 20.

Debbie was born in Royal Oak, Michigan, on September 29, 1958. She had a happy childhood with 11 siblings, loving parents, doting grandparents, and a large extended family. With so many people in her orbit, life was full of joy, laughter, and warm memories. Although resources were modest, her home overflowed with love and togetherness.

She remembered summers at a family cabin in Northern Michigan, where she first fell in love with the outdoors. That love carried through to her teen years when she and her girlfriends would take off on camping, hiking, and canoeing adventures—simple pleasures that brought great joy.

In the early 1980s, she made her way to Colorado in an old, rickety pickup truck. She stopped and cried at the summit of Independence Pass. So overwhelmed by the breathtaking beauty, she knew at that moment that if there was a heaven, it was here. And she never left. Debbie took advantage of all the outdoor sports Colorado had to offer. Hiking and skiing were her favorites. She was happiest when achieving the summit and could feel her heart soaring above the majestic heights.

She married and built a family in Colorado. Her daughters, Katie and Megan, were the loves of Debbie’s life. She cherished motherhood— playtime, bedtime stories, crafts, travels, and doing her best to give her girls a better life. She never had a Barbie growing up, so she made sure her daughters had every one they wanted. These little acts of love became lasting memories.

She enjoyed a successful 45 year career as an independent bookkeeper. Debbie also found joy in bringing people together through her cooking. During a brief but meaningful catering venture, her beautifully crafted cakes graced the tables of over 500 weddings. As one of her last endeavors, she started the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce travel program. Her trips around the world brought hundreds together with memories to last a lifetime.

Debbie took a new path in 2017. She hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain—a pilgrimage that changed her forever. There, she met Eugene Brady—her love, her partner, her husband. They built a life filled with laughter and joy that beautifully blended their Colorado and Irish families.

Though life had its challenges, she faced them all with a sense of humor, grace, and a commitment to kindness. She made it a practice to greet strangers, to smile often, and to strike up conversations wherever she went. She had a wonderful life (her favorite movie)!

She is survived by her mother; her daughters, Katie Bannon (Scott Levine) and Megan Bannon (Jason Mills); her cherished granddaughter, Isabelle; numerous brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews; her Irish family; and, most of all, her true love, Eugene Brady.

To Eugene—please know I’ll always be with you. I might be the bird who takes food from your hand, the warm air that caresses your face on a summer evening, or that star that twinkles in the night sky.

A celebration of life will be held at the Old Thompson Barn on September 27, 2025 from 2:00pm – 5:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider growing an indoor or outdoor plant that could live on in her memory.