Deborah Ann Kowalak

Andover, NJ- Deborah Ann (Druback) Kowalak passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice surrounded by her loving husband and family. She was 66. Deborah was born in Bayonne, NJ to William A. and Anne (Stasiulaitis) Druback and has lived in Byram Township, NJ for the last 29 years, living previously in Bayonne, and Cranford. She was a loving wife, mother, and mother-in-law and soon to be grandmother of a little girl for whom she will always be a Guardian Angel, and watch over. Deborah was a graduate of Holy Family Academy, Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School, and worked as an executive assistant for ten years for several Wall Street firms. She also had attended Saint Peter’s College for a time, and later in life was a Real Estate Agent, as well as a small business owner/operator. Debbie was extremely talented and artistic, a pianist in her youth, she became the first female Drum major of Saint Andrew’s Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps. Later she was proud to be a part of a committee of Bridgemen alumni who brought the drum corps back to the performance field. She enjoyed creative things and for a while dabbled in art, gourmet foods, nail sculpture and jewelry crafting. Her proudest accomplishment/achievement was the birth of her son, Keith, to whom she was devoted and would do anything for. Deborah is survived by her loving spouse of 44 years, Thomas, her son Keith and his wife, her beloved daughter-in-law Samantha, and a player to be named later, a little girl due in June. Also, her beloved brother and sister-in-law, Gregory Druback and his wife Brenda of Standfordsville, NY. Larry Kowalak and wife Donna of Chatham, NJ, Lynn Oyanedel and husband Carlos of Bayonne, NJ, several nieces, a nephew, a number of cousins and several surviving aunts and uncles. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. May Abdo-Matkiwsky of the Sparta Cancer Center for her compassion, support and tireless work during this time. Deborah and Tom will be eternally grateful to her lifelong friends from ”the projects”, St. Andrew’s parish, HFA, and the Bridgemen, who have all been so kind, loyal, and caring. Friends and family are invited Wednesday 4~8 pm to Goble Funeral Home 22 Main Street Sparta, NJ. A 10 am Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at St. Kateri Tekakwitha RC Church followed by entombment in Holy Cross Mausoleum, North Arlington, NJ. Memorial contributions are being accepted by the family to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice Foundation 99 Sparta Rd Newton, NJ 07860 and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church Fund 427 Stanhope Rd Sparta, NJ 07871.