Deborah Suzanne (Choiniere) O'Brien

Deborah was born on October 4, 1954, the first child of Suzanne and George Choiniere in Omaha, Nebraska. Suzanne had time to take the bus downtown, get a new pair of slippers and work several hours of her nursing shift while in labor — quite the cool customer. George’s Air Force service took the family to Okinawa, Japan, several years later, and Deborah fondly remembered that unique experience.

Growing up, Deborah was close to her grandmother Rachel Johnson, and loved spending time at the family farm with her aunt Marjorie Johnson, siblings Mike, John and Annette, and cousins Linda, Sandy and Bruce.

After Deborah graduated from high school in Canton, OH in 1972, she went on to study French at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, OH. At Heidelberg, she met John O’Brien and they married in 1975. Deborah graduated from Heidelberg in 1976, had children Katie (1979) and James (1984), and lived in Ohio, Nebraska, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California before returning to Ohio. Deborah earned a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Xavier University in 1995, and moved to Indiana in 1998.

Deborah started working for the Girl Scouts in 1988, at Freedom Valley Girl Scout Council in the Philadelphia area. She went on to work for Konocti Girl Scout Council in California, Great Rivers Girl Scout Council in Cincinnati, OH; Licking Valley Girl Scout Council in northern Kentucky; and finished her Girl Scout career with 10 years at Tulip Trace Girl Scout Council in Bloomington, Indiana. Deborah believed deeply in the mission of the Girl Scouts, and dedicated much of her life to supporting girl members, volunteers and staff. She made wonderful connections through the organization and nurtured many careers.

After significant health issues, Deborah retired and spent time with her partner, Tish. Deborah was an avid quilter, and a member of the Bloomington Quilt Guild for several years. She was very involved in St. Thomas Lutheran Church throughout her time in Bloomington, and considered a second career as a Lutheran minister after enrolling at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Sadly, due to ongoing health issues, Deborah’s time at CTS and plans for another career were not long-lived.

Deborah was predeceased by her son, Daniel Bennett, and her father, George Choiniere. She is survived by her daughter Katie (wife Erin Hanlon); son James (wife Dayna) and grandchildren Edie and Rowan; her partner, Tish Llewellyn (children Christine and Scott); her mother, Suzanne Choiniere; and her siblings Michael (wife Tari), John (wife Jane), Annette (partner Bill).

Services will be held at St. Thomas Lutheran Church on Friday, February 23 at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Girl Scouts (GSUSA).