Debra "Debbie" Ann Langell's Obituary
Debra "Debbie" Ann Langell passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at her residence in Mercy Village, Fort Gratiot, MI, surrounded by her daughter, Lisa, and her “second family” of incredibly special caretakers there that genuinely loved her like family. Until the last few years, she had been a lifelong resident of Marine City, Michigan. Born on December 16, 1948, she graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1966.
Debbie worked for many years as an office assistant, nutrition consultant, and caregiver. When time allowed, she enjoyed birdwatching, photography, gardening, crafting, cooking, baking, and playing the card game Nertz at family gatherings. Throughout her life, Debbie was a woman of deep faith and strong community ties. She was a devoted member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and found immense joy in singing and performing with the former River District (now Shoreline Sounds) Sweet Adelines chorus. She also served for many years as Secretary for the Marine City Scholarship Foundation Endowment, helping to support the educational dreams of local students.
A woman of deep compassion, Debbie was always willing to help—whether it was a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger in need. Despite her own struggles with chronic health issues, she remained a source of kindness and support to those around her. She kept in close touch with friends through calls, cards, and visits, always making sure they felt remembered and loved. Debbie will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Langell, son-in-law, Mason Mullally; her sister, Sandra (Schneider) Gramer; nieces Kay (Elsholz) Smith, Cindy (Gramer) Kramer, Annie (Schneider) Gibson, and Heather (Lewandowski) O’Brien; nephews Steve and Kevin Gramer; many cousins; and numerous lifelong friends.
Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Cora Schneider; her brother and sister-in-law, James and Ruth (Britz) Schneider; her sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne (Schneider) and Bernie Elsholz; her brother-in-law, James Gramer; her nephew, Jeff Britz; and her deeply cherished sister with special needs, Audrey Schneider. Debbie dedicated herself for decades to being Audrey’s primary caregiver, along with extensive care and support provided by her sister, Sandra Gramer. It was their passion and mission to provide Audrey with the best possible care until her passing in 2019.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday May 9th from 4:00- 8:00 p.m. at Young Funeral Home, China Twp. With a funeral mass Saturday, May 10th at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church. A luncheon will follow at the Riviera Restaurant in Marine City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Marine City Scholarship Foundation Endowment https://stclairfoundation.org/fund/marine-city-scholarship-foundation-endowment/.
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