Jerry DeBaun

On March 16th, our dear friend Jerry DeBaun embarked on a new adventure, leaving this world behind. Born in northern Indiana, Jerry faced numerous challenges throughout his life, including cerebral palsy, functional deafness, and was severely limited in his ability to communicate. During his formative years, he was placed in a state hospital with little access to developmental programs and without a family to call his own.

In the early 1980s, Jerry’s life took a positive turn when he was moved to New Hope’s main facility in Indianapolis. By the early 1990s, he transitioned to New Hope’s group homes program. It was at New Hope that Jerry blossomed into the beloved person we all came to know. He found a community that accepted and embraced him for who he was, allowing him to develop communication and life skills that enabled him to lead a fuller life. Jerry’s irrepressible spirit and joyful personality truly shone during this time.

In 1987, through a volunteer program at New Hope of Indianapolis, Jerry met lifelong friends Joe and Vicki Regan. Vicki and Joe had just recently welcomed their first born and when Jerry showed up wearing a Boy Scout uniform with a big smile, radiating joy, they knew it was going to be a perfect fit. From that point forward, Jerry became family. Although he faced significant communication challenges, his warmth and spirit transcended words. He formed a special bond with their cat, Bruce, and shared in the excitement of the Indy 500, the Colts, and numerous family and holiday celebrations. In 2000, when Joe and Vicki relocated out of state, they continued to visit Jerry and he was able to visit them in California as well as Boston.

In 2004, Jerry met a family that would also become lifelong friends. Ginger Edwards, who worked at New Hope from 2004 to 2008, invited Jerry over for Thanksgiving one year. It was then that he met her parents, Nancy Gillespie and Bruce Allen, and a special bond was formed. Over the years, Jerry became like family, joining them for holiday dinners while Nancy and Bruce visited him and took him out to eat. Bruce would often pick Jerry up, rolling down the windows as they jammed out to rock music together. Jerry also adored their family dog, Gracie—who, despite being a bit naughty, was always sweet with him. In 2020, Nancy became Jerry’s healthcare representative, a role that passed to Ginger upon Nancy’s passing in 2021. Ginger cherished being part of Jerry’s team at New Hope, attending his meetings, and helping make important healthcare decisions, and ultimately getting to be by his side during his final days.

Those cherished memories remind us of the immense joy Jerry brought into our lives. We can only imagine Grandma Orth and Nancy welcoming him to heaven with open arms, where he is free to run, speak, and embrace joy without limitations. Jerry, we love you deeply. You will forever be a part of our family. Thank you for the laughter, warmth, and unforgettable memories. Rest well, dear friend.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary, 11411 North Michigan Rd, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 3 PM to 5 PM. An optional prayer service will take place at 2:45 PM, led by Faustinus Okafor, featuring a "Divine Mercy" prayer for Jerry and all the residents of New Hope.