Debbie Hart

12/1/60 - 4/30/23

Debbie passed away on April 30, 2023  after a sudden illness.

Debbie was born in St. Louis and spent her life there. She started early as an adventurer, befriending both children and adults in the neighborhood once she could walk.

Gowing up, she was the most outgoing child of the four Hart kids and made friends easily. For many years, she had a rotation of second "families" to share holidays and birthdays with.

Debbie absolutely adored her nieces Laura, Susie & Bridget, referring to them as her babies, no matter their ages. She welcomed with open arms the men who married these sweet girls: Brian Keller, Tom Gyurica, and Justin Reuter. As her great nieces and nephews entered the picture, she doted on them, too:  Jonathan Meyer; Ben Wright; Zack, Katie, Matt, and Lauren Keller; Rachel and Tommy Gyurica; and Lucas, Logan, and Austin Reuter.

Every year, Debbie's Dad, Charlie Hart (who passed in 2016), said that all he wanted for his birthday/Fathers Day/Christmas was four good kids. You can imagine the jokes that this elicited. Debbie's siblings (the three other good kids) are Cate (Daniel Wallach), Patrick (Mary Pat), and Doug.

She was extremely close to her mom, Pat, who passed away in 2001, and in her last days Deb expressed hopefulness about seeing her again soon. When Mom's sister, Norma Jean White, passed away 13 years later (on the same date!) Deb felt doubly gutted when November 27 rolled around. Norma's son, Michael, was the only cousin in St. Louis during the growing-up years.

Debbie was so fond of her cousins! Thanks to a long-time tradition of Hart Family Reunions held each summer in Loogootee, Indiana, there developed a closeness that continues to this day. Debbie's cousins on the Hart side of the family are: Michael, Joseph, Anne, David, Paula, Bobby, Judy, Charles, Mary, Blake, John, Jerry, Bernie, Mare, Mark, and Kathy.

There is no way to adequately describe the role that Debbie's stepmom, Margaret Hart, has played in her life the past 20 years. The word "angel" perhaps comes closest.

No funeral is planned at this time. If you want to make a toast in Debbie's memory, you might consider doing so while listening to the album So Far by Crosby Stills Nash & Young, or anything by Cat Stevens.

To make a gift in Debbie's memory, please do so to the animal sanctuary of your choice.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home   www.osfuneralhomes.com