LHS graduate had a thirst for life
Published in the May 31, 2017 edition
NORTH ANDOVER — Deborah Ann Visco, of North Andover and formerly of Lynnfield and Bradford, passed away on Sunday, May 28, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 17 months after a Stage IV ovarian cancer diagnosis. Deborah astounded doctors, family and friends with her drive to both beat cancer and live an active and purposeful life despite the diagnosis.
She shared her life for nearly four decades with Terry Dunham adding cat, Maks, to the household more recently. She was the daughter of Joseph A. Visco and the late Patricia A. (Koeppe) Visco.
Deborah graduated from Lynnfield High School, then attended Boston College and Salem State University. She cultivated and maintained strong friendships wherever she went. She was the “go-to gal” for charitable groups like Angel Flight, Habitat for Humanity, Boston’s Children’s Hospital, Red Sox Scholars, Homes for Heroes and Lynnfield Historical Society that each benefited greatly from her organizational skills and fundraising abilities.
She always stepped up to help out when anyone was in need.
Deborah lived a life of many passions, including: family and friends, of course, but also the Boston Red Sox, Springsteen/Rolling Stones/U2 concerts, skiing, fitness and ballroom dancing. Distance did not inhibit her passions; she traveled far and near in their pursuit.
She had a passion, too, for her work, where she guided her clients through the sometimes bewildering process of home financing. For the past 20 years Deborah was a Residential Mortgage Loan Originator, most recently at Union Trust Mortgage Corporation in Peabody.
Family was the heart of her life. She leaves behind siblings: Denise M. Visco of Gaithersburg, Md., Joseph A. Visco II of Wakefield, Patricia A. Falasca and her husband Gerald of Saugus, and Diana S. Visco of Wakefield; as well as her stepmother, Elizabeth Visco, of Lynnfield and her step-brothers: Donald Dembro of Somerville, and Christopher Dembro of N. H. She is survived by so many who loved her — an aunt, uncle, many nieces, nephews, great nephews and a great niece, cousins, and friends who she also considered family.
Deborah’s funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Friday, June 2, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at St. Maria Goretti Church, 112 Chestnut St., Lynnfield at 10 a.m.
Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, June 1 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Interment, Forest Hill Cemetery, Lynnfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Deborah’s name may be made to Cancer Research Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215.
