Deborah Lee Nese

On December 21, 2025, Deborah Lee Nese, 77, passed on the Winter Solstice, a day that is the darkest part of the year, but one that also marks the start of ever-increasing light. On the day that Debbie passed, however, the sky was a brilliant blue and the sun shone brightly. Paradoxically, on the day she left us, her healing had begun as she was reunited with her family and her husband when she was called "home." Daughter of the late Mae (Moser) and late Albert Thomas, she was born on November 1, 1948 and became the baby sister to her siblings, Kassie, Albert, and Beverly, who doted on her for the rest of their lives. She graduated from Penn Hills High School in 1966, where she met her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Joseph Nese, Sr., and they married June 14, 1969. Debbie and Joe were blessed to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary before Joe passed. She missed him terribly every day since, so we know they are now strolling the eternal Boardwalk-even better than the one Debbie loved in Ocean City, Maryland--hand-in-hand, gazing at the ocean, and smiling at so many memories of family and friends.
Talking about Debbie's life cannot be done without emphasizing her enduring role of nurturer in both the Thomas and Nese families, for that is who she was. Everyone loved "Aunt Debbie." She was kind, gentle, and generous. She remembered everyone on their birthdays and Christmas. She-along with her sisters-made thousands and thousands of cookies for the weddings and graduations of her nieces and nephews. Visiting Aunt Debbie was always fun, especially on Thanksgiving where she invited and cooked for 40+ people every year. Despite the tiring holiday preparation, she loved when people stayed until way past midnight. Her potato salad and cookies are legendary, but her heart is her legacy and will be forever unmatched.
Her nurturing heart, though, was most evident with her kids and grandkids. She cheered at countless wrestling matches, soccer tournaments, and softball games. She spent Summer days at the YMCA pool with her kids. She beamed with pride at musical performances and dance recitals. She made specialty cakes and candies for birthdays and holidays, and she crafted wedding cookie tables never to be rivaled. However, her favorite time was the family Ocean City vacation where memories live again in her kids and grandkids. And, oh my, did she adore her grandchildren! Whether taking them birthday shopping, treating them to McDonald's or Dairy Queen, making up silly songs, or snuggling with them under the coziest blankets and watching movies, Grammy would have spent every waking moment with them just so that they knew how very much loved they were.
She is survived by her three children, Joe Nese Jr. (Meghan), Michelle Haracznak (Mike), Michael Nese (Chantel); her grandchildren, TJ, Emmy, Johnny, Nicky, and Ava Nese; brothers-in-law Paul Nese and Richard Nese, and sisters-in-law Liz and Linda Nese as well as so many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends.
Friends and family will be received, Friday, December 26th, from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Soxman Funeral Homes, Ltd., 7450 Saltsburg Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235, where a service will be held Saturday morning at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, we kindly suggest that in honor of Debbie and the Christmas season, which she loved so much, share a meal with your loved ones-whether at home or at a restaurant-and embrace the feeling of hope and light.