Obituary for Debbie "Ya Ya" Stonebraker
On Friday January 21, 2022, Debra K Stonebraker was eternally relieved of her pain after a courageous battle with Stage 4 ovarian cancer that she fought with inspirational strength.
Born May 31, 1959, Debbie lit up every room with her smile and presence…a smile and presence that would eventually steal the heart of her high school sweetheart, Jack. Debbie met Jack in high school and asked him out their senior year. Their love was instant and proved to be eternal as the two of them married on November 18, 1978 and took the world on together as a team of truly best friends for all of her days, with an admiration for each other that the rest of the world could only dream of.
While she loved vacations and outings and spending as much time with family as possible, Debbie found her true calling in motherhood. She was the most incredible mom and YaYa who loved so purely and effortlessly that she made it look simple. Debbie saw the beauty and full potential in her kids and grandkids from the moment they were born and she spent her entire life selflessly and quietly fostering their growth, making sure they not only had everything they needed but also that they knew how to do it all on their own up until her very last breath. She instilled an appreciation for family so deeply rooted in selfless love and traditions that she kept picking up more “kids” along the way as each of her kids grew up and never wanted to leave, instead choosing to share their family and their traditions with their friends.
The ease in which she was able to see the pure and raw ability of every child was a gift that she shared as a caregiver for countless children over the last 30+ years of her life. Fostering their growth with activities geared specifically towards them, picnics, trips to the park, and genuinely being a soft place to land, “Miss Debbie” made an impact so profound that every child she encountered felt her love long after they stepped foot out of her house for the last time.
The truth is, Debbie was everyone’s soft place to land, living so selflessly and so full of love that she herself felt like home to an incredible amount of people. Her love truly knew no boundaries. And while her time on earth has come to a close, her impact has not. Debbie’s traditions, lessons and love will forever live on through the lives of everyone she touched, and she leaves behind a legacy that will shine through her family as they continue to honor her for the rest of their lives.
Debbie will forever be remembered and adored by her husband, Jack Stonebraker; her children Courtney (Joe) Piekarz, Ashley (Nigel) Stonebraker, and Cody (Rachel) Stonebraker; her grandkids, Ben (12), Blake (9), Kendall (7), Dominic (5), Palmer (2), and Isabelle (2 months); her brother and sisters, Jack (Linda Hibner), Jeanne Felty, Sherry (Jerry) Schmidt; her mother-in-law, Sally Stonebraker; her sister-in-law, Sheri Meadows as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who became family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl & Treva Hibner; her sister Linda (Denny) Curtis; her father-in-law, Jack Stonebraker; her brother in laws Doug (Kathy) Stonebraker, Mark Stonebraker and Tom Felty.
Visitation Friday, January 28 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory 1640 S. Greenmeadows Blvd. (at Barrington Rd.), Streamwood/Schaumburg. Funeral Saturday 11:00am. Following services cremation private at Countryside Crematory.
Donations and memorials can be sent to a fund set up by her children to help ease the financial burden of Debbie’s final journey.
https://gofund.me/a2d94f27
Born May 31, 1959, Debbie lit up every room with her smile and presence…a smile and presence that would eventually steal the heart of her high school sweetheart, Jack. Debbie met Jack in high school and asked him out their senior year. Their love was instant and proved to be eternal as the two of them married on November 18, 1978 and took the world on together as a team of truly best friends for all of her days, with an admiration for each other that the rest of the world could only dream of.
While she loved vacations and outings and spending as much time with family as possible, Debbie found her true calling in motherhood. She was the most incredible mom and YaYa who loved so purely and effortlessly that she made it look simple. Debbie saw the beauty and full potential in her kids and grandkids from the moment they were born and she spent her entire life selflessly and quietly fostering their growth, making sure they not only had everything they needed but also that they knew how to do it all on their own up until her very last breath. She instilled an appreciation for family so deeply rooted in selfless love and traditions that she kept picking up more “kids” along the way as each of her kids grew up and never wanted to leave, instead choosing to share their family and their traditions with their friends.
The ease in which she was able to see the pure and raw ability of every child was a gift that she shared as a caregiver for countless children over the last 30+ years of her life. Fostering their growth with activities geared specifically towards them, picnics, trips to the park, and genuinely being a soft place to land, “Miss Debbie” made an impact so profound that every child she encountered felt her love long after they stepped foot out of her house for the last time.
The truth is, Debbie was everyone’s soft place to land, living so selflessly and so full of love that she herself felt like home to an incredible amount of people. Her love truly knew no boundaries. And while her time on earth has come to a close, her impact has not. Debbie’s traditions, lessons and love will forever live on through the lives of everyone she touched, and she leaves behind a legacy that will shine through her family as they continue to honor her for the rest of their lives.
Debbie will forever be remembered and adored by her husband, Jack Stonebraker; her children Courtney (Joe) Piekarz, Ashley (Nigel) Stonebraker, and Cody (Rachel) Stonebraker; her grandkids, Ben (12), Blake (9), Kendall (7), Dominic (5), Palmer (2), and Isabelle (2 months); her brother and sisters, Jack (Linda Hibner), Jeanne Felty, Sherry (Jerry) Schmidt; her mother-in-law, Sally Stonebraker; her sister-in-law, Sheri Meadows as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who became family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl & Treva Hibner; her sister Linda (Denny) Curtis; her father-in-law, Jack Stonebraker; her brother in laws Doug (Kathy) Stonebraker, Mark Stonebraker and Tom Felty.
Visitation Friday, January 28 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory 1640 S. Greenmeadows Blvd. (at Barrington Rd.), Streamwood/Schaumburg. Funeral Saturday 11:00am. Following services cremation private at Countryside Crematory.
Donations and memorials can be sent to a fund set up by her children to help ease the financial burden of Debbie’s final journey.
https://gofund.me/a2d94f27