Debra Lynn Dewald

Debra Lynn (Smith) Dewald, 73, passed away after a brave and prolonged battle with Parkinson's Disease on September 12, 2024 in Ocean Pines, Maryland. Known for her quick wit and tenacious spirit, Debbie spent a lifetime caring for others and, quite literally, fixing broken hearts.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware on June 3, 1951, Debbie was the eldest of four children born to the late Beverly and William D. Smith. Debbie was a graduate of John Dickinson High School in Wilmington, Delaware and Salisbury State College in Salisbury, Maryland as well as a certified emergency medical technician and cardiovascular technician.
Debbie and her former husband moved to Ocean Pines with their three young children in 1977. There, Debbie quickly became an active member of the community, volunteering at her children's schools as a member of the PTA, teaching "Great Books", and helping build the award-winning Showell School Christmas Parade Floats. She also volunteered with the Ocean Pines Swim Team, Delaware Regional Ballet Company and Berlin Little League. An emergency medical responder, Debbie was a founding member of the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department EMS Division.
As her children grew older, Debbie began a successful career in healthcare as an electrophysiology and cardiac catheterization technician, starting at Peninsula General Hospital in Salisbury. In 1992, she moved off the Eastern Shore to pursue her career, eventually settling in Annapolis, Maryland. She worked at both Sinai Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. Respected in her field, Debbie became Clinical Supervisor of the Cardiac Cath Lab at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC and later at the National Institutes of Health Heart Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Shortly after her Parkinson's diagnosis at age 60, Debbie returned to the Eastern Shore and lived with her youngest daughter Melissa Esham and grandson Brady in Berlin. Soon - not only her own grandchildren - but friends and neighbors throughout the community came to know her as "Mommom Debbie". Mommom Debbie loved children, dogs, and a day at the beach.
Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Bill & Beverly Smith. She is survived by her children, Paul Chistopher Dewald and his partner Stephanie Boyd of Annapolis, Lisa Dewald Stoll and her husband Adam of Los Angeles, and Melissa Dewald Esham of Berlin; five grandchildren: Brady Esham (21), Lauren Stoll (18), Benjamin Stoll (16), Rebecca Stoll (15), and Paul Christopher Dewald Jr., aka "Bo" (5); as well as her three siblings: William D. Smith Jr., Linda Duckworth, Jody Rossi and their families.
Debbie's children wish to express their gratitude to the staff in Cottage A at Catered Living of Ocean Pines for their loving care.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 1pm at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 12pm. Letters of condolence can be sent to the family via www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of The Burbage Funeral Home.
Remembrances can be made through contributions to:
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research https://www.michaeljfox.org/
Autistic Children's Support Group of Worcester County
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YGMPX3UEMKNKC#