Early morning Wednesday, March 16, 2016, Deborah Harnick Dechter passed away at home in Virginia Beach accompanied by her husband, Charles Dechter; daughters, Lisa Dechter Spiegel and Aimée Dechter; son-in-law, David Spiegel; and one of her three nursing assistants.
Although stricken with Alzheimer’s and unable to remember her relationships to her family members and friends, Deborah’s heart retained a great capacity to love, and showered much of it on her devoted husband, Charles, whose name she never forgot and to whom she turned for reassurance and comfort.
On the day she received her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, Deborah, always thinking of others, requested that her body be used to advance scientific research on Alzheimer’s Disease. Her brain has been donated to the New York University Medical Center’s Center of Excellence on Brain Aging.
Deborah Harnick Dechter was born in New York on September 12, 1930, to her devoted parents, Louise and Samuel Harnick.
Deborah is survived by her cherished granddaughters, Ariana and Alexandra Spiegel, who gave Deborah great joy and comfort; beloved sister, Miriam Huber; and nieces and nephew.
Her family is extremely grateful for the support and exceptional care Deborah received from her nurses, especially Jan, Julie, Diana, Cali, Becky and Sonya; her physicians, Dr. Feldman and Dr. Shah; her social workers, Alix and Joyce; and her CNA, Carmen. The family is also thankful for Aimée’s partner, Ross Matsueda; and Deborah’s friends, Deb, Elaine, David, Patricia, Julia and Julia’s Forever Young group in the Bayside Recreation Center. Most of all, Charles, Lisa and Aimée are indebted to the new family members Deborah loved and depended on in the last chapter of her life, Joyce Stewart, Sabrina Cox and Rhonda Vincent, who provided Deborah with love, affection and impeccable nursing care, often pushing themselves to great physical and emotional lengths to ensure Deborah’s comfort. The family is consoled and moved by the humanity and generosity Deborah and they experienced during Deborah’s long illness.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Temple Ohef Sholom in Norfolk, officiated by Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg and Cantor Wally Schachet-Briskin. A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at 4048 Tree Chop Circle in Virginia Beach following the service.
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