Debra A. Peabody

Debra Allison Peabody was born March 19, 1956, and passed away peacefully on June 29, 2022, at the age of 66, at Southdale Fairview Medical Center in Edina, Minnesota.

Debbie lived at Portland Residence and then Connections for most of her adult life. She was a music lover who loved to listen to old time rock and roll and old country especially the Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers. She loved to go to dances when she was younger and dance, play music on her guitar and harmonica, and sing. 

Debbie loved to be a part of the Special Olympics every year in her youth and she was very affectionate. She liked to take walks, but when she got tired she would sit on the curb and refused to move. Debbie also had a love for all things law enforcement often beelining for a person in uniform and disrupting any outing to be near them, and then refusing to leave the officer’s side so we could continue the activity with everyone. Debbie then needed some creative affirmations to move her to the next steps. 

As she got older, she worked for years in Golden Valley at Opportunity Partners. She stayed active and especially loved to eat out at restaurants and to do arts and crafts.  Debbie also loved attending the State Fair and she would take any opportunity to go on car rides. She loved to shop for magazines so she could cut up all the pictures. Debbie always had her favorite person and if you were not her favorite it was hard to get her to do her usual routine. Debbie was stubborn and lovable! 

Things that made Debbie the most unique were: her love for getting presents; she was passionate about doing latch hooks; loved Diet Coke, Root Beer, and Old Milwaukee; and she loved wearing black and white clothing. Debbie especially hated getting up in the mornings but loved quality time with her favorite person so that could make her a little less grumpy. Debbie had a great laugh and wonderful sayings, and she will be missed by those that knew and loved her.

Debbie also was preceded in death by her longtime love, Burton “Butch” Hendricks. She is survived by her family: the Moren (Jan and Don), Wilson (Mandy, Scott, Chloe, Claire, and Jack) and Beckman (Christian, Stephanie, and Ashley) families.

A memorial service will be held in Debbie’s honor at Johnson Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield, Minnesota on October 8, 2023, from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. for anyone who can attend. A visitation will be held first followed by a brief service at the end. There will be refreshments served before the service and during the visitation.

Donations are not necessary, but if made please make them to Special Olympics Minnesota. The official website is https://speicalolympicsminnesota.org.