Deborah Leigh Magnuson

PAXTON - Deborah Leigh (Mahoney) Magnuson died on Tuesday, May 28 after a 23-year battle with Scleroderma and a 2 month hospitalization at UMass Memorial - University Campus.

Born in Brighton and raised in Natick, Debbie was predeceased by her parents Francis and Ann (Lowry) Mahoney, and her younger sister Maryann. She leaves behind a legacy of unwavering love for her surviving family: Husband David Magnuson; their children (and spouses), Michael (Kristine), Katie (Saïd), Eric (Jessica), Thomas (Julia), and Kristen; grandchildren, Charlie, Yeshua, Olivia, Peter, Sophie, Anders, Esther, and Ros; younger siblings, Timmy, Tommy, Teddy, and Randi; and many nieces, nephews, in-laws and cousins who were close to her heart.

She attended Rose Hawthorne High School in Concord and graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School in Wellesley in 1969. She joined the Navy after High School, and served in Washington, Chicago, San Diego, and Boston. After receiving a medical discharge from the Navy, she attended Bentley College.

She worked as a nurse at Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick and later at Worcester Tool and Stamping Co. in Rochdale as a bookkeeper. Most recently, she was a longtime receptionist at Bancroft School in Worcester.

Debbie took joy in helping and nurturing others - through both individual acts of kindness and years of volunteering in Paxton and the Bancroft community. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother, taught CCD at St. Columba Parish, and served on the board and later as President of Paxton Little League. At Bancroft, she headed the CARE and Horizons program for many years, and in 2012 received an award from the Wachusett Regional School District Special Education Parent Advisory Council for her service. For 18 years she played an active role helping Bancroft students plan and coordinate the annual Worcester Stepping Out For Scleroderma Walk first started by her son Eric in 2003.

Her courage, strength, optimism and ability to laugh through the pain inflicted by scleroderma inspired and awed those who knew her. Her eagerness to have fun - whether dancing in her youth or playing card games with her grandchildren - was a gift. She loved to travel, to cheer on the Red Sox at Fenway Park, to tell stories, and most of all to spend time with family. Her appetite for life was exceeded only by her appetite for ice cream.

Calling Hours will be held from 5:00-8:00 pm on Friday, May 31st at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 am on Monday, June 3rd at St. Columba Parish, 10 Richards Avenue, Paxton. Interment will follow at Mooreland Cemetery, 261 Richards Avenue, Paxton.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood
Dr #105, Danvers, MA 01923 ( www.scleroderma.org ).

To share a memory or offer condolence, please visit the "Tribute Wall" on this page.