Funeral Mass for Deborah Frances “Debbie” Wesa, age 63, will be held Saturday January 19th, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 7171 Glenridge Dr, Atlanta, Georgia. St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church
The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Msgr. Joe Corbett. A reception hour for family and friends will be held immediately following the funeral Mass in the Stapleton Center at St. Jude’s and then followed by a offsite Luncheon.
Internment will be held at a later date for family at All Saints Catholic Church Columbarium.
Debbie passed away peacefully at home with husband Alan and daughter Courtney at her side on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 after a courageous battle with ALS.
Born April 3, 1955, in Denver, Colorado, Debbie was the daughter of the late Frank Shappeck and Frances O’Connor Shappeck. She grew up in Morton Grove, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. She attended St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School in Niles, Illinois and graduated from Main East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1977, Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Retailing, Business, Textile Science and Home Economics. While in school she excelled at playing the Clarinet in the University of Illinois Small Symphonic Band, the Clarinet Choir, and was a member of the University of Illinois Marching Illini Flag Corps. Through Marching Illini, she met Alan Wesa, the love of her life.
Debbie and Alan married on August 23, 1980 at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church in Niles, Illinois and they both moved to Atlanta, Georgia for Alan’s work. They have lived in Norcross, Ga., Alpharetta, Ga. and most recently Sandy Springs, Ga for the past 39 years. Surviving are her husband, Alan Edward Wesa; and daughter Courtney Frances Wesa.
Debbie’s professional career spanned over 40 years, the last 18 years serving in various capacities with Oracle. Debbie most recently worked in the Oracle Global Business Unit (GBU) Central Operations Team serving as Director of Pricing and Cloud Business Operations. Prior to that she held titles of Sr. Director, Solutions Management of Oracle Retail Global Business Unit (RGBU), Director of Product Strategy of the Oracle Retail Global Business Unit (RGBU), as Consulting Solutions Director for Oracle and as a Consulting Practice Manager and Product Manager at Oracle/Retek. Prior to her joining Oracle, Debbie worked at Upton’s Department Stores as Divisional Planning Manager and Buyer for 12 years, at Federated Department Stores at Rich’s as Buyer for 5 years, and at Carson, Pirie Scott & Co. as Buyer for 3 years.
Debbie was also active in a variety of volunteer and non-profit endeavors, teaching 2nd grade Sunday School at the All Saints Parish School of Religion for 15 years, volunteering with the Girl Scouts at the Shrine homeless shelter, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and volunteering her time at various other Oracle sponsored food drives and eyeglass donation centers. She also enjoyed playing Clarinet in the Atlanta Wind Symphony.
In her free time, Debbie was an accomplished chef and hostess, opening her home to many gatherings of friends and family. Debbie loved traveling around the world, exploring new places and cultures. A life-long learner, she was a skilled knitter and avid reader. She found great joy in sharing her many talents with friends and family, with whom she will be greatly missed.
Condolences may be sent to:
Mr. Alan Wesa and Ms. Courtney Wesa
805 Jett Ferry Manor
Atlanta, Ga. 30350-4711
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in memory of Debbie Wesa to:
University of Illinois Bands
1103 South Sixth Street
Champaign, Il 61820
or
ALS Association - Georgia Chapter
5881 Glenridge Drive - Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30328
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18