Deborah J. "Debbie" Kunko

Deborah "Debbie" Jean Kunko, age 71, of Zanesville, passed away unexpectedly June 25, 2025, at her home. She was born May 4, 1954, in Cambridge, England, a daughter of Cora Malloy and the late Robert Malloy. After coming to the United States when her father finished his time in the Air Force, Debbie grew up in Cresson, Pennsylvania. She married her high school sweetheart, and their life took them to three different states over the years, spending the last 40 years of her life in Ohio.
In addition to the many years as a homemaker taking care of her children, Debbie worked for more than twenty years as a pharmacy technician for CVS Pharmacy. She was very involved in her children's lives, and took on the role of 'second mom' to many of her kid's friends. She was the mom always on the sidelines, the one who opened her home to anyone, or the doing random things to make special moments for her kids. In her retirement she enjoyed life doing things like cardmaking, shopping, watching movies with a huge bucket of popcorn, playing with the dog, going to get ice cream, laughing and having fun with her family. She always said being "Gramma" to her granddaughters was her absolute pride and joy.
Debbie is survived and missed deeply by her husband of almost 48 years, Rick Kunko, daughters Allison (Scott) Wenger of Galloway, OH, Stephanie (Mitch) Fisher of Franklin, OH, son Andrew (fiancé Stephanie) Kunko of Bethel Park, PA, granddaughters Rebecca & Megan Wenger of Galloway, OH, mother Cora Malloy of Lexington, NC, brother Doug (Jan) Malloy of Lexington, NC, sisters-in-law Christine (Alan) Jordanoff of Pittsburgh, PA, Elaine Kunko of Cincinnati, OH, Jackie Malloy of Myrtle Beach, SC and five nieces and nephews along with their children.
Debbie is preceded in death by her father, Robert Malloy, brother Bobby Malloy, in-laws Anthony & Susan Kunko and brother-in-law Nick Jordanoff.
A public viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, from 6-8 pm at Matthew Decort Funeral Home in Portage, PA. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church in Portage at 10 am on Thursday, July 3, with burial immediately following at Forest Hills Cemetery in Johnstown, PA. To sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note of condolence please visit www.hilliscombsnestor.com.