Deborah Vanaria

January 16, 1951 – August 4, 2026

Deborah (Garland) Vanaria, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully in her home from Alzheimer's disease on August 4, 2026, at the age of 75.

Debbie was born on January 16, 1951, to Richard and Marjorie (McNamara) Garland. She graduated from Lincoln-Sudbury High School and lived most of her life in Sudbury before moving to Marlborough.

Debbie loved the ocean, boating, and spending summers on Cape Cod. She enjoyed traveling and seeing live music.

Debbie was strong, loving, and hardworking, with a personality that made her impossible to forget. She was affectionately known as the “fun auntie,” and she truly lived up to the name. Debbie was always up for an adventure and was never one to turn down an opportunity to do something fun or exciting. Her adventurous spirit, sense of fun, and willingness to jump right in brought laughter and joy to those around her.

Through the years she worked for Waters Mfg Inc, Novotechnik and enjoyed working part time at T.J. Maxx and Half Way Cafe. She taught Jazz, disco dance and acrobatics. She attended Middlesex Community College through the years. In retirement from Novotechnik she restored and painted one-of-a- kind, high end furniture for resale. She was a talented and commissioned decorative painter. Her condo was featured in a Christmas country magazine. Her creativity and artistic talent were a meaningful part of her life, and her beautiful work reflected the care and passion she brought to everything she did.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, brother Richard Garland and sister Marjorie (Midge) Boyd. Debbie is survived by her daughter, Gina (Vanaria) Pike, and her fiancé, Gary Joiner; her sister, Janet and husband David Frost; her sisters-in-law, Janet Garland and Sandra Grierson; and her loving companion Joseph Madden, who was by her side throughout the past 8 years. She also leaves her grandchildren, CJ, Leighanne, and Julianna Pike, and her three great-grandchildren. Many very close nieces and nephews who have always had a special place in her life.

She will be remembered for her loving heart, her many talents, her strength, her creativity, generosity and the special place she held in the lives of her family and friends.

She leaves behind a lifetime of cherished memories and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Her memory will live on in the hearts of her family and friends, and the love she shared will never be forgotten.

Visitation will be held at Duckett Funeral Home, 656 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, MA 01776, on August 19, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at Ascension Parish Sudbury, 160 Concord Road, On August 20, 2026, from 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers please donate to:Alzheimer's Association

320 Nevada St Suite 201, Newton, Ma 02460.