Deborah Grossman Shapiro

Deborah Grossman Shapiro was born on August 14th, 1930. The fifth child of six born to Jacob and Lizzie Grossman of Kensington, Philadelphia, her life was forever shaped by her sisters, brothers, and love of family. She was always in touch with family—in person whenever possible and on the phone if they couldn’t get together. Bubbe called every day at 7:30. Debby would say, “Good morning, Mom!” and Bubbe would say, “How did you know it was me?”

Debby married Leonard Shapiro in 1948 at age eighteen. He remained the only love of her life long after his passing in 2007, for her remaining 18 years. Debby and Lenny honeymooned in Atlantic City with their families and, soon after, formed their own family; three children—Jerry, Andrew, and Barbara—gave her more to love. Debby attended the Philadelphia College of Art and enjoyed an exciting career in interior design. She devoted her life to her children and, when six grandsons and three granddaughters came along, she happily spent her time traveling to visit and take care of them in California, Australia, and Vermont. Always bursting with energy and ready to take over, she was met by joy in the faces of her grandchildren and relief from her tired children who knew that the kids would be in grandmom’s trusted hands. Seven great grandchildren only brought her more joy.

2022 was a very hard year for mom, as she lost her sister Annie and brothers Frank and Izzy in less than three months. She often shared that she would never get over this.

Which is not to say that she was sad. Mom’s signature emotion was joy. She managed to find friendship with every person that she met. Whenever she travelled, she would leave the plane with the phone number of a new best friend and new stories to share. To her last days, she would only talk about how fortunate she was and her deep feelings of gratitude for the life she had been given.

Deborah is survived by her sister-in-law Reba Grossman, daughter Maggie (nee Barbara) and her husband Steve, son Andrew, son Jerry and his wife Shelagh, grandchildren Bennett and his wife Anna; Anna and her husband Dom; Connor and his wife, Kelsey; Aaron and his partner, Michelle; Jake, Eli, Lilah, Mina, Bram and his partner Brooke; great grandchildren Eloise, Felix, Pia, Cece, Viv, Adeline, and Bianca; and her beloved nieces and nephews.

If you would like to celebrate mom’s life, please give to whatever charity might make the world a better place and take the time to bring a bit of joy into someone’s life, even if that life might be your own.