POLAND - Debra Ann Markovich Reedy, passed away Friday, April 3, at Hospice House in Poland, after 19 years of treatment and care for a brain tumor.

After major surgery at The Cleveland Clinic in December of 2010, Debra fought courageously, attending more than 1500 hours of therapy sessions since then. Her Christian faith, the grace of God, prayers and support from family, fellow church members and friends sustained her. She was well-aware of their love and messages of peace and hope. All who knew her knew that she was a true lady.

Debra was born in Youngstown on March 30, 1952, the daughter of John and Tina Markovich. The family moved to Struthers in 1958.

Debra was a 1970 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School.

Debra’s busy schedule as a young woman included playing and teaching the organ at St. Luke’s Church, attending Youngstown State University full-time, playing golf with her father, getting her pilot’s license, and in her spare time, getting a cosmetology license. She was a caregiver to her father, who had a brain tumor and lived with and cared for her mother until 1995, until her own ill health changed her life forever.

Debra fulfilled a lifetime dream when she married Thomas Paul Reedy at Tara - A Country Inn in Clark, Pa., on July 21, 1996.

Debra and Tom traveled the world, starting with their honeymoon in Bermuda, then to Mexico, Italy, Florida, New York City, London, Scotland, Philadelphia, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, France, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Rome, Sicily, Las Vegas, Costa Del Sol, Hawaii, Maine, Palm Springs, Fla., Cancun, Niagara Falls, Washington, D.C., and Paradise Island. Her favorite travel places were New York City, Holly Springs, S.C., Nags Head, S.C., and Short Hills, N.J., where “Grandma Deb” and “Papa” visited their three grandchildren and created many wonderful family memories. From 1996 to 2010, Debra and Tom took 102 trips. Needless to say, they fulfilled their dream of seeing the world together.

Debra taught at Struthers High School for almost 25 years. In 1988, Debra was awarded by the Ohio Board of Education the Ohio Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award. She held a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from YSU, awarded in 1974, and her Master’s in Special Education and a Specialist degree in Gifted Education from Kent State University in 1978. She received qualification as an educational specialist to teach History in 1983 from YSU. She loved to teach so much that she would often say, “I love what I do so much that I’d do this for free.”

In 1997, Debra had to take a disability retirement from teaching. She loved her students, and they loved her. During Debra’s 24 years as “Miss Markovich,” she creatively shared her vast traveling experiences to bring the world to those she taught from second grade through high school. She was a lifetime member of the Mahoning County Teachers Association and the Ohio Teachers Association. She was a member of the Friends of the Boardman Library. She loved to work on the annual book sale and attend the monthly meetings. She was so pleased and honored by the many cards and prayers that her fellow members sent to her. As a volunteer, she was a Eucharistic minister bringing prayers, hope and communion to nursing home residents for more than 10 years.

Debra is survived by her husband, Thomas Paul Reedy Sr. of Poland; daughter Kelly (Douglas) Elwell; and grandson Andrew Thomas Elwell of Holly Springs, N.C.; daughter-in-law Marjorie Reedy; and grandchildren Jessica Paige Reedy and Adam Thomas Reedy of Livingston, N.J.; sister Jean (Steve) Kantaras of Poland; sister-in-law Janice (Robert) Voytko of Macedonia; niece Jennifer (David) Everson and her great-niece, Ella of Massillon; nephew Brent (Amanda) Kantaras of Boardman; and niece Casey Kantaras of Poland.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents, John and Tina Markovich; and her son, Thomas Paul Reedy Jr., who died April 11, 2014, in Short Hills, N.J. Thomas worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and was an “honored survivor” of the 9/11 disaster.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, with Pastor Julianne Smith officiating.

Family and friends may call on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland, and Tuesday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.

Burial will take place at the Poland Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials may go to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 2985 Center Road, Poland, OH 44514, (330) 757-3272; or Hospice of the Valley, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514.

Debra’s family and friends want to thank the hundreds of nurses and doctors at The Cleveland Clinic, a dozen or so rehab facilities and Hospice of the Valley for the love and care that they gave to her. She called them all her “dream team.” These loving and skilled people are truly angels. Tom’s favorite quote sums up the journey: “All you can do is all you can do. And that’s enough. Peace.”

Visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.

- See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/tributes/2015/apr/05/debra-a-markovich-reed/#sthash.lAlc0h78.dpuf

DEBRA A. MARKOVICH REEDY

DEBRA A. MARKOVICH REEDY

     

POLAND - Debra Ann Markovich Reedy, passed away Friday, April 3, at Hospice House in Poland, after 19 years of treatment and care for a brain tumor.

After major surgery at The Cleveland Clinic in December of 2010, Debra fought courageously, attending more than 1500 hours of therapy sessions since then. Her Christian faith, the grace of God, prayers and support from family, fellow church members and friends sustained her. She was well-aware of their love and messages of peace and hope. All who knew her knew that she was a true lady.

Debra was born in Youngstown on March 30, 1952, the daughter of John and Tina Markovich. The family moved to Struthers in 1958.

Debra was a 1970 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School.

Debra’s busy schedule as a young woman included playing and teaching the organ at St. Luke’s Church, attending Youngstown State University full-time, playing golf with her father, getting her pilot’s license, and in her spare time, getting a cosmetology license. She was a caregiver to her father, who had a brain tumor and lived with and cared for her mother until 1995, until her own ill health changed her life forever.

Debra fulfilled a lifetime dream when she married Thomas Paul Reedy at Tara - A Country Inn in Clark, Pa., on July 21, 1996.

Debra and Tom traveled the world, starting with their honeymoon in Bermuda, then to Mexico, Italy, Florida, New York City, London, Scotland, Philadelphia, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, France, Myrtle Beach, S.C., Rome, Sicily, Las Vegas, Costa Del Sol, Hawaii, Maine, Palm Springs, Fla., Cancun, Niagara Falls, Washington, D.C., and Paradise Island. Her favorite travel places were New York City, Holly Springs, S.C., Nags Head, S.C., and Short Hills, N.J., where “Grandma Deb” and “Papa” visited their three grandchildren and created many wonderful family memories. From 1996 to 2010, Debra and Tom took 102 trips. Needless to say, they fulfilled their dream of seeing the world together.

Debra taught at Struthers High School for almost 25 years. In 1988, Debra was awarded by the Ohio Board of Education the Ohio Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award. She held a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from YSU, awarded in 1974, and her Master’s in Special Education and a Specialist degree in Gifted Education from Kent State University in 1978. She received qualification as an educational specialist to teach History in 1983 from YSU. She loved to teach so much that she would often say, “I love what I do so much that I’d do this for free.”

In 1997, Debra had to take a disability retirement from teaching. She loved her students, and they loved her. During Debra’s 24 years as “Miss Markovich,” she creatively shared her vast traveling experiences to bring the world to those she taught from second grade through high school. She was a lifetime member of the Mahoning County Teachers Association and the Ohio Teachers Association. She was a member of the Friends of the Boardman Library. She loved to work on the annual book sale and attend the monthly meetings. She was so pleased and honored by the many cards and prayers that her fellow members sent to her. As a volunteer, she was a Eucharistic minister bringing prayers, hope and communion to nursing home residents for more than 10 years.

Debra is survived by her husband, Thomas Paul Reedy Sr. of Poland; daughter Kelly (Douglas) Elwell; and grandson Andrew Thomas Elwell of Holly Springs, N.C.; daughter-in-law Marjorie Reedy; and grandchildren Jessica Paige Reedy and Adam Thomas Reedy of Livingston, N.J.; sister Jean (Steve) Kantaras of Poland; sister-in-law Janice (Robert) Voytko of Macedonia; niece Jennifer (David) Everson and her great-niece, Ella of Massillon; nephew Brent (Amanda) Kantaras of Boardman; and niece Casey Kantaras of Poland.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents, John and Tina Markovich; and her son, Thomas Paul Reedy Jr., who died April 11, 2014, in Short Hills, N.J. Thomas worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11 and was an “honored survivor” of the 9/11 disaster.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, with Pastor Julianne Smith officiating.

Family and friends may call on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland, and Tuesday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.

Burial will take place at the Poland Riverside Cemetery.

Memorials may go to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 2985 Center Road, Poland, OH 44514, (330) 757-3272; or Hospice of the Valley, 9803 Sharrott Road, Poland, OH 44514.

Debra’s family and friends want to thank the hundreds of nurses and doctors at The Cleveland Clinic, a dozen or so rehab facilities and Hospice of the Valley for the love and care that they gave to her. She called them all her “dream team.” These loving and skilled people are truly angels. Tom’s favorite quote sums up the journey: “All you can do is all you can do. And that’s enough. Peace.”

- See more at: http://www.vindy.com/news/tributes/2015/apr/05/debra-a-markovich-reed/#sthash.lAlc0h78.dpuf