Debora Hickey

Debora (Debbie) Hickey, aged 56, peacefully departed from this world on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford. Born in Manchester on September 2, 1967, Debora's vibrant spirit illuminated the lives of all who knew her.
Debbie was raised in Suffield, CT and graduated from Suffield High School in 1985. While growing up Debbie made countless friends and participated in various social groups and sports teams. During this time, she earned a reputation as the life of the party and sometime rabble-rouser, but always managed to charm her way out of any serious trouble.
During these years, Debbie spent summers with her family in a beachside cottage in Marshfield MA and later Duxbury MA. These were happy times for her and her family, full of laughter and love, and established a lifelong pattern of Debbie being draw back to the ocean to spend time with the ones who brought her joy.
Although she loved her time in her hometown surrounded by friends and family, she always had a sense of adventure and exploration. As such she embarked on a journey of academic and personal growth, culminating in her acceptance into Keene State College in NH.
While there she joined the Tai Phi Xi sorority and again made many friends, some of whom she remained close with her whole life. It was a whirlwind four years of laughs, late nights and some shenanigans, but she studied hard and graduated in 1989 with a degree in Business Administration.
Her continued thirst for adventure led her to the bustling streets of Boston, where she made her home in South Boston and later Dorchester, where she met her former husband Edward (Eddie) Phillips. Together, they co-owned and operated the Seaport restaurant on the Boston waterfront, a place of cherished memories, including the celebration of her wedding in 2000.
Debora later was drawn back to the ocean and the serenity and coastal beauty of Wells, Maine, where she owned a home. There she forged deep connections and shared her passion for the ocean, the beach, and the company of good friends. An unwavering supporter of Boston and New England sports, Debora's heart belonged to the Red Sox and the Patriots, her enthusiasm infusing every game with excitement and fervor.
Above all, Debora's greatest source of happiness was her family. She reveled in the love she shared with her mother, Pamela (Page) Hickey, her brother James Hickey, his wife Samantha Church, and her adored niece and nephews, Talulla Claire and Dashiell Thomas Hickey, who affectionately knew her as "Auntie Debbie."
In her final years Debbie lavished her niece and nephew (as well as many other children in her life) with lots of love and attention – and also toys and candy, to the point where her nickname changed from "Aunty Debbie" to "Santa Debbie."
Debbie is survived by her brother James, sister-in-law Samantha and mother Pamela who live together in Somers CT where she also lived part-time, as well as her aunt Jill of Florida, her uncle Terri Hickey and his wife Donna of Coventry CT, her cousins Michael and Jeremy Page of Connecticut, her cousin Sarah Atherton of New York and cousins Jordan Hickey and Jennie Hickey of Connecticut.
She was pre-deceased by her husband Eddie Phillips and her father Thomas Hickey, as well as many other relatives, friends and loved ones.
Above anything else, Debbie always wanted everyone she knew to be happy and full of laughter, even in the face of tragic events. As such, a celebration of Debbie's life will be held by the family sometime in the coming months after some time has passed to allow those who knew her to grieve and heal.
During her lifetime, Debbie loved visiting, exploring and living in different destinations. Accordingly, Debbie's remains will be cremated and her ashes spread to numerous places she loved and cherished. In death as in life, Debbie would not want to stay in one place, and would want to be close to as many people she loved as possible.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Debora's memory may be made to the Make a Wish Foundation by visiting: www.wish.org. To share online condolences and memories of Debora, please visit www.leetestevens.com.