Deborah A. "Debbie" Geer Atwill

Deborah A. "Debbie" Atwill passed away at her home in West Warwick, RI, on Saturday, September 24, 2022 following a multi-month difficult journey of a variety of health issues. She handled every hurdle (and there were many) with dignity and a very positive attitude.
Debbie was born on July 16, 1945 at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT. Her proud parents were Dr. George I Geer, Jr. and Wilhelmina "Mena" Natalie German Geer. As it was during World War II, her Dad did not get to meet her until the war was over. To commemorate her birth, he purchased and sent her a "special" blue dress that she treasured throughout the years.
Debbie grew up in South Portland and Higgins Beach, Maine. She attended Mrs. York's pre-school, South Portland Heights School, Frank I. Brown School, South Portland Jr. High and South Portland High School from which she graduated in 1963 as the first female Class President in its history.
In her youth, Debbie was a tomboy and cowgirl. As a cowgirl she enjoyed sporting her outfit complete with hat, boots and holster. However, she was totally disappointed that Santa never brought her a horse!
She went to Dorothy Mason School of the Dance(pre-cursor to Maine State Ballet) and took group tap & ballet lessons. She also took a private dance class where she learned to twirl the baton. One time in grammar school while she was "on punishment" and confined to her yard, she was able to announce at school that she was putting on a 1-woman show on her front porch. She even charged admission and had a great turn-out!
In the summer prior to her Sr. year in High School, Debbie was an American Field Service exchange student in Denmark. That fall, she was Head Majorette at SPHS.
In September 1963, she went to URI in the dental hygiene curriculum graduating in 1965. That September she joined her sister Daryl(also an RDH) to live and work in Boston.
She held multiple dental hygiene positions in both MA & RI.
A major highlight in Deb's life was giving birth to her son Mark. Soon after he was born, it was apparent that he would be a
special needs child. Debbie was a most loving and devoted mother. She took a leave from her dental hygiene career and opened a gift shop NATURE'S BACK DOOR. This way she could bring Mark to work with her, as well as, use her artistic and
creative skills.
Debbie joyfully took care of Mark at home until it was determined he needed additional care. He was accepted at Crystal Springs School & Home for profoundly challenged children in Assonet, MA where he lived until his passing in 2002 at age 20. Debbie spent many happy hours visiting him there.
Debbie converted to the Catholic faith in 1995. She developed a bond with Father Francis Giudice of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence, RI. As he knew that, in addition to her strong faith, she had experience taking care of people in wheelchairs, she would be an ideal candidate for him to hire as an outreach employee of his church to take some of his parishioners to dr. appointments etc. He offered her the job & she accepted!
While an employee at the Cathedral, Debbie went on several mission trips to Haiti. She also assisted Father Giudice taking Pilgrims across Europe to shrines and later answered the call to go to Poland and the Holy Land to bring back information to share with the world.
She worked under Father Giudice until his retirement in 2004; They remained in close contact until he died in 2021.
The next chapter in Debbie's "work" life was being a care-giver to the elderly. This brought much joy to them and to her.
She retired in 2010. Until recently, she volunteered at Sacred Heart Church in West Warwick, RI devoting lots of energy to decorating the church for holidays and making crafts for & working on their fairs. She believes in God winks and what occurs in one's life is "more than coincidence. Among her many joys, two stood out: her family & sharing her faith.
Along with her parents and son, she is preceded in death by her brother George(Steve) I. Geer III.
She is survived by her sister Daryl Geer, brother Charles Geer, sister-in-law Maureen Geer Daffner & husband Howard, nieces Julia Geer, Allison Parks & husband Will, great niece Finley Parks, great nephew George Parks, as well as many cousins and innumerable friends whom she treasured.
The family wishes to acknowledge Debbie's neighbor Judy Krekorian, who kept them abreast of Debbie's health status throughout her difficult health journey.
Due to covid and its complications for others plus all family being in distant locations, per Debbie's request, there will be no visiting hours or funeral. She will be buried in the Assonet MA Burial Grounds alongside her beloved son Mark.
If anyone wishes to make a memorial donation, Debbie's closest charity work was through Providence Haiti Outreach, 125 Scituate Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910.