Virginia Beach —Early morning March 16, 2016, Deborah Harnick Dechter passed away at home in Virginia Beach accompanied by her husband, Charles Dechter, daughters Lisa Dechter Spiegel and Aimée Dechter, son-in-law, David Spiegel, and one of her three nursing assistants.
Although stricken with Alzheimer’s and unable to remember her relationships to her family members and friends, Deborah’s heart retained a great capacity to love, and showered much of it on her devoted husband, Charles, whose name she never forgot and to whom she turned for reassurance and comfort. On the day she received her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, Deborah, always thinking of others, requested that her body be used to advance scientific research on Alzheimer’s Disease. Her brain has been donated to the New York University Medical Center’s Center of Excellence on Brain Aging.
Deborah Harnick Dechter was born in New York on Sept. 12, 1930 to devoted parents Louise and Samuel Harnick.
Deborah is survived by her cherished granddaughters, Ariana and Alexandra Spiegel, who gave Deborah great joy and comfort, and her beloved sister, Miriam Huber, nieces and nephew.
A funeral service was held at Ohef Sholom Temple officiated by Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg and Cantor Wally Schachet- Briskin. H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. Online condolences at www.hdoliver.com.