Debra A. Holden

August 14, 1955 ~ February 23, 2024

Nobody else held me so tight Or made me feel so right No one's eyes shined so bright with love As my mom, who is now high above.

- Tamsen Butler

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Debra Ann Holden. Debra was called home on February 23, 2024, at the age of 68. Debra passed away surrounded by love, hand in hand with her treasured son Joseph.

Debra was born in Brooklyn, NY on August 14th, 1955, to the late Agnes (Simonetti) and Lawrence Holden. She will be deeply missed by her children: Danielle Bartley and her husband Richard, and Joseph Nyhuis and his husband Philip; grandchildren: Sophia and Catalina; sister, Karen Cancro (Peter); brother, Michael Holden (Giorgina); cousin, Barbara Torres Acosta (Adael); nieces and nephews: Jennifer (Pauline) and Jax, Jillian (Evinn), Ariana, Alexa, Rachel, Michael (Marci), and Vanessa (Jessica). Debra was also predeceased by her best friend, Catalina Torres.

In 2021 Debra retired after a long successful career in wireless telecommunications, where she made many friends that became family throughout the years.

Debra will be lovingly remembered as a strong, resilient, and devoted mother who lived for her two children. She was their role model and their constant source of love and affection; she was their best friend. She was immensely proud of their accomplishments and their dedication to their families. The absolute joy of her life was being a grandmother to her two beautiful granddaughters.

Debra was also a dog lover who spoiled her dogs Buddy, Meesha, and Yankee. Her family often joked that when they come back in their next life, they want to come back as one of her dogs.

To honor Debra's memory, her family will be holding a memorial service from 11am to 2pm on March 3, 2024, with a Eulogy Service at 1PM, at Brooks Funeral Home with a celebration of life to follow at Good Will Fire Department. We invite anyone who knew Debra to attend and celebrate her life. Memorial donations may be made to the Center for Safety and Change, 9 Johnsons Ln, New City, NY 10956.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff that became family from the 6 North unit at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY.