Haddy, Debby Kae

Debby Kae Haddy, 62, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center surrounded by her family. Services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, located at 3650 Cottage Grove Ave. SE, followed by burial at St. George Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church, followed by a 7 p.m. Trisagion service.

Debby was born May 3, 1951, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Clarence and Orpha (Allen) Allers. She graduated from Benton Community Schools and later attended both Iowa State and the University of Iowa, where she studied home economics. She married Gary Haddy on Jan. 31, 1971, at St. George Church.

Her greatest joy was being a wife, mother and grandmother. She was a constant source of support and joy for her family. While raising her two children, Debby was a seamstress working out of her home and in various boutiques. Debby had a lifelong love of sewing, making everything from drapes to wedding dresses to costumes for her children.

Debby then embarked on a career in real estate, starting out as an office assistant then obtaining her license and selling on her own. Deb enjoyed preparing wonderful lunches for her fellow agents when a new property was listed and always baked a fresh dessert for all of her open houses. Deb worked as Realtor for 10 years until her failing health pushed her to retire.

Debby is survived by her husband, Gary; son, David (Amy) Haddy of Minneapolis; daughter, Catherine Haddy of Cedar Rapids; her very special granddaughter, Zelda Haddy; brother, Dannie (Jo) Allers of Hiawatha; her twin sister, Peggy Rae Barron (Dennis Crow) of Blairstown; and her little buddy, the family dog, Howie.

Debby had a passion for cooking. Her favorite pastimes including watching the Food Network and reading cookbooks. She never missed an episode of “Chopped,” “Iron Chef America” or anything with her favorite chef, Alton Brown. Deb embraced her husband's Lebanese culture and her beloved mother-in-law, Fannie, taught her how to cook all the family dishes. After Fannie's passing, Deb would often remark “Mom would have been proud of me for making that.”

Deb fought numerous lifelong illnesses stemming from the effects of juvenile diabetes. Throughout all of it, she was a fighter. There is no question it was her strong spirit and love for life that kept her going when most would given into the illness. She was brave and not afraid to do any procedure that might improve her health. Nineteen years ago she received a pancreas and kidney transplant, then again 10 years ago, she required another kidney, donated by her daughter. Even up until the end she would ask about new procedures and options to repair her failing heart. There is no doubt, the best medicine came 18 months ago when her granddaughter, Zelda, was born.

Zelda brought a spark back into her Grandma's heart. Her family is comforted by the fact that Debby has been called home to the Lord and will always be watching over her little Zelda.

Her family would also like to thank all the wonderful doctors and nurses who cared for her throughout the years, with a special thank you to Dr. Melanie Stahlberg and the team at Internist Associates of Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials may be directed to St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in her name.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.

Published Nov. 3, 2013 in The Gazette