Deborah Ward-O’Brien was born, raised and lived in North Haven, Connecticut with her daughter Cassidy Ward O’Brien and her husband of thirty-two years Dr. Wesley J. O’Brien, Jr. Above all else, she was profoundly dedicated to her family and shared with them an immeasurable, undying love. Deb was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma several years ago, yet never, not once, lost hope for the future. It is not in Deb’s nature to ruminate upon what might have been. Instead, she responded to adversity with action, seeking ways to make things better, rather than feeling badly about how they are. Such has been characteristic of Deb’s entire life during the course of which she gave of herself both professionally and in her community. Over the course of a long and rewarding nursing career, Deb, who held an APRN from Yale University School of Nursing, worked extensively with geriatric patients in facilities throughout Connecticut. She spent most of her professional life as an active member of various research teams (primarily in the field of women’s health) at Yale University, the Connecticut Mental Health Center, and the Women’s Center for Behavioral Research at Yale, and authored, with her colleagues, a number of published research articles. Recently retired, Deb returned to her first love, caring for and counseling the elderly, most recently at Elim Park, an assisted living community in Cheshire, Connecticut. Deb was active in politics and community work, volunteering her time to various boards and commissions in North Haven. She served as an elected member of the North Haven Board of Finance, Chair of the North Haven Republican Town Committee, a member of the North Haven Commission on Aging and a member of the North Haven Education Foundation. Although her stem cell transplant prevented her from attending, last year she channeled her energies toward improving the lot of others also challenged by lymphoma, inspiring and organizing a stem cell donation drive and a hugely successful fundraiser to benefit research at the Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven. Besides her husband and daughter she leaves a brother Charles W. Ward, Jr.. She was predeceased by her son Wesley J. O’Brien III.
Family and friends are invited to attend a funeral service on Thursday morning at 10:00 in St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3 Trumbull Place, North Haven and are also invited to attend the committal services immediately following in the North Haven Center Cemetery. The visiting hours will be Wednesday from 5 to 8 pm in the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Stem Cell Transplant Program c/o Smilow Cancer Hospital, P.O. Box 1849, New Haven, CT 06508.
Will remember that smile and contagious laugh!
There is a hole in my heart. Deb was such a special friend and wonderful person. She was kind and gentle, yet a strong woman; really funny, yet serious and determined when necessary; she was so very smart, but never smug, and always willing to share her knowledge with others if asked. She was a great role model – someone we should all aspire to be like. As the saying goes "The song is over but the melody lingers on". We all are better people for having known her – especially the "yellow gown and purple glove group"!
Deb,
I knew something happened this week-end! I had the honor of taking care of you for the last past couple of years! You are one in a million, this past saturday I created that memory with My daughter Veronica taking her to the Christmas Rockettes in New York! You told me that we were going to have a great memory and you were right! It is with a sad heart that I'm posting this but I know you are in God's hands! Your love for your Childhood Husband and daughter will live on forever. Even threw your hardest days you always made a smile for me when I came into your door! That Smile will last me a life time! Rest in Peace Love Eileen – NP-11 Smilow Cancer Hosp.
DWO, Finally free. Look over us. Will miss you forever! Your PIA
Deb my friend, i will miss you very much especially your wonderful sense of humor and how much you cared about being a great nurse! so you can imagine how glad I was that the nurses at Yale took excellent care of you. With you being a research nurse for so many years you showed how much you truly cared about it by having a fund raiser for stem cell transplant. I'm sure that many will benefit from how much you cared about giving and your family giving, At a time when life was so tough for all of you.
I am very sorry for your loss. I hope knowing that your loved one is in our loving heavenly Father's memory will bring your family comfort during this difficult time. Very soon now we can look forward to God's promise at a Revelation 21:4: "… Death will be no more, neither will mourning, nor outcry, nor pain be anymore, the former thing gave passed away."
Sincerely,
Monique
So sorry for your loss. Rest peacefully.
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So sorry for your loss. Deb was an inspiration to many people. She will be well remembered.
Deb was a dear old friend, One I havent seen in fourty years but a friend to the end. The last time I spoke to her was the day she married Wesley. She was all giggles and smiles that day and from what Ive read most of her life.
My condolence to her family R.I.P. Deb.
My dear childhood friend. No words can express my deepest sympathy to your family. R.I.P.