Judith E. Debo

Judith “Judy” Elizabeth Debo, passed away on March 10, 2024, at the age of 85. She was born in Toledo, Ohio on December 26, 1938, to Clair Allen and Helen Bonniel (Kroetz) Parish. Growing up in Maumee, Judy attended grade school at Union school, where she first met her forever friends, Donna, Nancy and Lala. These friendships lasted a lifetime, and she fondly recalled many memories and stories from her time spent with them. She graduated from Maumee High School in 1956. Having been a good academic student, she liked to recall how she failed gym class because she never showed up. She never considered herself an athlete and felt like the gym uniforms they were required to wear were just not flattering. Upon graduation, Judy chose Miami University to further her studies. She said at the time it required her to take the train from downtown Toledo, only to then have to transfer onto a bus, and then finally a taxicab in order to get to campus in Oxford, Ohio. While at Miami she studied both Spanish and French and wanted to use her language skills to be an interpreter at the United Nations. Instead, after graduation, she came back home to Maumee and was set up on a blind date which her brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Judi Parish, along with her future brother and sister-in-law, Vince and Judy Debo, set up for her. She met Robert “Bob” Debo and while this fact cannot be confirmed, it is quite possible their first date was going out to get a cup of coffee. He was tall and handsome and as her mother said to her, “Don’t let this one get away.” She didn’t…and they were married on October 3, 1964. They spent over 50 years together until Bob’s passing in 2018.

Judy worked for many years at the former State Home Savings Bank, first in Maumee and then in Swanton, Ohio. After retiring, Judy and Bob decided to move out to Swanton where Judy worked at the Swanton Area Chamber of Commerce organizing the holiday parades and the summertime parties in the park. She also worked at the Swanton Public Library which wasn’t really a job because she loved being around books and had a passion for reading.

Judy loved to travel making trips to Ireland, Great Britain, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. Of all her trips, Ireland was her dream and she talked about returning all the time. She also enjoyed taking her grandchildren on trips, with her most favorite being Greenfield Village.

In 2009, Judy decided to embrace Catholicism and became a full member of the Catholic Church.

Judy is survived by her children John (Melissa) Debo, Mary (James) Scott, and Michael (Amy) Debo; grandchildren, Tristan, Zach, Molly, Ellie, Caroline, Tessa, Isabel, Claire and Stella. She is preceded in death and now reunited with her husband, Robert Debo; parents, Clair and Helen Parish; and brother, Jerald Parish.

Judy’s family would like to extend special gratitude to her caretakers at Elizabeth Scott Community, who were not just caregivers, but true friends and family.

Friends and family are invited to visit at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St, Maumee, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., where a rosary service will take place at 6 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 104 W. Broadway St, Maumee, on Friday, March 15, at 10:30am. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Maumee or Hospice of North West Ohio.