Deborah J. Butts Faulkner, age 59, of Harborcreek, passed away peacefully, at her home, with her husband and her oldest son by her side, on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, following a brave battle with cancer. She was born in Johnstown, Pa., on January 4, 1958, a daughter of the late Louis R. and Margaret E. (Homola) Butts.
Debbie was a graduate of Greater Johnstown Area Vocational-Technical School and had later in life attended Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. She was employed as a licensed practical nurse, having been employed by the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Erie, Hamot Medical Center, St. Vincent Health Center, All Seasons Placement and Select Specialty Hospital. Her first job was a deli meat cutter at Jupiter’s in Johnstown. Debbie had also co-franchised a few Country Fair Stores with her husband, including the one on the corner of Buffalo and Saltsman Roads in Harborcreek. She was a wonderful and caring nurse to anyone that she was charged with caring for. Everyone will remember her for her love of her family, heavy metal music, the Steelers and for her passion as a nurse.
Debbie was an avid TV show enthusiast, which would include: The Walking Dead, Nip/Tuck, The Shield, The Americans, American Horror Story, Jerry Springer, Days of Our Lives, Bates Motel, Salem, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Once Upon a Time, C.S.I., Headbanger’s Ball, and Honey West, as well as numerous other shows.
Debbie truly was one of the most caring and loving individuals that anyone could come into contact with. Through the various people that were able to meet her throughout her life, she made an eternal footprint on their hearts. Whether it be family, friends or bands she loved to listen to, she always made it a point to make extra time for conversation and reflection. She will always be remembered to everyone as “Metal Nurse Debbie.”
She was a member of St. James R.C. Church and had regularly attended the Saturday evening Mass at 7 p.m. She was also a member of the East Erie Moose Lodge.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Christine Ann Butts.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 36 years, Eugene F. “Gene” Faulkner; two sons, Jonathan M. Faulkner of Erie and Joshua M. Faulkner (Shena) of Winchester, Va.; four grandchildren, Kiley Estelle, Reagan Virginia, Juliette Mae and Jacob Alexander; and numerous extended family (mostly in Johnstown), close friends and colleagues.
Debbie’s family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation for the loving care and compassion of the entire nursing staff of the Community Nursing Services of North East, as well as the comforting spiritual care she was given by her pastor, Fr. Jim McCormick.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Saturday at St. James R.C. Church at 10 a.m. Serving as pallbearers will be Jonathan and Joshua Faulkner, Jerry Bollinger, Tom Bartlett and DJ Bross. Calling hours will also be held on Saturday at the Dusckas-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 5151 Buffalo Rd. (at Hannon Rd., in Harborcreek), from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. where a Celebration of Life Service will begin there at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. James R.C. Church, 2635 Buffalo Rd., Erie, PA 16510.
