Deborah L. Walsh

Obituary – In Loving Memory of Deborah L. Walsh Deborah Louise Walsh (nee Calvin) was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 21, 1959, to parents Kenneth and Mary (nee Floer) Calvin. Deb passed Friday, December 16, 2022 due to complications from melanoma cancer, which she fought hard for 18 months, enduring monthly trips to the University of Michigan Cancer Center for cutting edge immunotherapy treatments. She also endured 30 rounds of radiation treatments from the Alpena Cancer Center. Deb was brave and courageous in her battle with cancer, and never lost her spirit or passion for life. Deb is survived by her husband Edward Walsh, daughter Lauren Pietersen (Michael Pietersen), and son Andrew Walsh (Marina Walsh). Deb is the loving grandmother of three grandchildren: Anja Schoenstein, Ethan Walsh, and Abigail Walsh. Deb was one of five children to Kenneth and Mary Calvin: Patricia Calvin (Vikki Maks), William Calvin (Cathy Calvin, deceased), Steven Calvin (deceased), Jeffery Calvin (Annette Calvin). Deb was loved by a very large extended family including many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Deb spent her childhood in Troy, MI where she graduated from Birmingham Seaholm High School. Deb married her best friend and the love of her live, Edward Walsh, on May 5, 1979. The wedding was held at the Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, MI where 150 people witnessed the wedding vows. Deb and Ed started their lives together by accepting positions in West Virginia for three years and Buffalo, NY for one year after that. Daughter Lauren was born in Parkersburg, WV in 1982, and son Andrew was born in Rochester, MI in 1985. Deb was a stay-at-home mother until both children were in elementary school, at which time Deb became a beloved school bus driver for Rochester Schools, where she met many of her lifelong friends and made lasting impressions on innumerable children with her warmth and kindness. Deb worked for Rochester Schools for 13 years and eventually decided to pursue a college education. Deb attended night classes at Baker College for four years and graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She has held positions for some of the country’s largest firms including Henry Ford Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Guardian Alarm. However, her favorite job was her final position with Reader’s Digest of New York City as a Business Analyst. Deb also taught classes at Baker College in beginning computer programming and taught adult education computer classes at Rochester Community Schools, all while continuing to work full time. In 2019, Deb and Ed decided to pack up and move to Lost Lake Woods Club in Lincoln, MI where they both had fond memories of the good times visiting family for 30 years. The four years spent at Lost Lake Woods Club were some of the best years of her life; she absolutely loved life at the club. Deb made countless friends who have been the most supportive group of people anywhere. The Lost Lake Woods community supported both Deb and Ed during the last 18 months offering meals, rides, running errands, and countless other moments of help. Without their help, it would have been impossible to have been able to stay at the club. Without a doubt, Deb’s passion in life was gardening. She was selected as a presenting garden for the LLWC Garden Walk in June 2022 and proudly showed off her hard work. Unfortunately, the day after the garden walk, the local deer population decided to eat almost all her flowers in one night. Deb was excited about finally learning how to play golf. She wanted to learn so she could join the women’s golf league and play golf with her husband. Deb loved everything about Lost Lake Woods Club, and the people who make up the membership are what she loved the most. Deb had plans in running for the Board of Directors in 2022 but had to drop out after her cancer diagnosis. Deb was a very spiritual person who served on the Bishop’s Committee at St. Phillips Church in Rochester, MI. Her faith was inspirational in her struggle with her cancer diagnosis. The family will receive family and friends on Thursday, December 22, 2022 from 11:00 AM until the memorial service at 1:00 PM at Gillies Funeral Home in Lincoln. A memorial service will be held at Coats Funeral Home, 3141 Sashabaw Rd. Waterford Twp, MI 48329 Phone: 248-674-0461, Thursday, January 5, 2023, with times to be announced. Deb specifically requested memorial contributions to the MALS Foundation in lieu of flowers. MALS has been extremely generous and supportive of Deb throughout her fight against melanoma and supporting them in return would mean a lot to her. Donations can be made at: https://www.malsfoundation.net/ To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Deborah L. Walsh, please visit our flower store.