Deborah Dian Sleeman

Debbie was born to Frederick and Ruth Sleeman and grew up in Ridgewood, NJ, graduating from Ridgewood High School before earning her degree from Bergen Community College.

Debbie began her career as an office manager, and in her caring nature, also volunteered with the Wayne Township First Aid Squad. She married and became a proud mother of two children. Later, as a single mother, she faced life’s challenges with resilience raising her two young children while bravely battling cancer. True to her determined spirit, once her health improved, she earned a black belt in karate, went on to become a licensed real estate agent, and had a pet sitting business, which stemmed from her lifelong love of animals. Debbie also loved music and had a wonderful voice, taught herself guitar when she was young, and more recently was teaching herself the piano.

In her later years, she found love again in meeting Larry, whom she married in 2017. Together they moved to North Carolina, where they enjoyed the retirement life, tending to her beloved garden, playing with her dog Misty, and practicing on her piano.

She fought a valiant fight against more health issues, and despite it all, kept her sense of humor, her kind spirit, and wonderful smile right up until the end. Though she is greatly missed, her family and friends take comfort in knowing that, as a woman of faith, she is now pain-free and in the loving arms of Jesus.

Her parents pre-deceased her, but remaining to cherish her memory are: husband Lawrence Walsh, son Casey (Brandy) Suchar,

daughter Stephanie (Hector) Acevedo, grandchildren; Ariel and Casey Suchar, and Aiden, Logan, and Gabriel Acevedo. Also, her sisters; Randi (Steven) Herman, Robin Sleeman, Jody (Jimmy) Purvis, and Jill (Steven) Marek, as well as several nieces and nephews, and a great niece and nephew.

She will be remembered for her strength, courage, kindness and unwavering love for her family, at a memorial service to be held in NJ at a later date in Spring 2026.

In lieu of flowers, may we suggest a donation to the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad (www.waynefirstaid.com). Follow the prompts to donate online, and above where you place your information, you can click on “add special instructions” to write “in memory of Debbie Sleeman” if you wish. If you prefer to donate offline, their donation address is: Wayne Twp Memorial First Aid Inc. PO Box 2004 Wayne, NJ 07474.