Deborah Ann Hatch
Deborah Ann Hatch (née Dehn), known as Debby, passed away on August 27, 2024, at the age of 81 in Sarasota, Florida. She will be remembered for her quick smile, her friendship, and all the love she shared with her family, friends, and the many women who considered her a sister (secret or otherwise).
She was born on January 20, 1943, to Ida Mae and Charles Dehn, Jr. in Saratoga Springs, New York. Her green thumb and love for flowers were attributed to her lineage who ran a family-owned florist since 1892. After graduating from Saratoga Springs High School, she earned her nursing degree at the University of Connecticut. Debby worked as a visiting nurse in Connecticut and later in Cape Cod.
Debby met Gordon, her loving husband of 45 years when he came to her house to fix a damaged power line. Luckily, when Gordon asked her out for a drink, she said yes, which is funny because she didn’t drink alcohol. Together, they created a blended family with Debby’s children, Lisa & Michael, and Gordon’s daughter, Valerie. They lived in Coventry, CT until 1987 when they moved to Cape Cod. She loved the Cape where she and Gordon lived in Eastham and Falmouth for the next twenty years.
Debby and Gordon became snowbirds in the early 2000s and joined the King’s Gate Club community in Nokomis, Florida. She was very active in the community and enjoyed all of the friends she made there over the years. Many Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners were shared at their home with their friends. Debby was an enthusiastic quilter. She was a key member of the Quilts of Valor program, contributing and presenting numerous quilts to many veterans.
Debby’s love for travel saw her exploring the continental United States with Gordon in a variety of RVs, cruising with friends from King’s Gate Club, and traveling to Provence, France with girlfriends. When she was home, she loved visiting with friends, reading, and working in her garden. She was happiest rocking a baby – especially her great-granddaughter, Annabelle “Belle”.
Debby is survived by her loving husband, Gordon Hatch; daughter Lisa (Phil) Gilbert; stepdaughter, Valerie (David) Odams; grandson, Zachary (Brittany) Odams; and great-granddaughters Annabelle Odams and Hope Telow. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ida Mae (Gibson) and Charles Dehn, Sr.; her brother, Charles “Dude” Dehn, Jr.; and her son, Michael Breault.
A memorial service to celebrate Debby’s life will be held at the King’s Gate Club Community Center on October 26th at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Debby’s memory can be made to the Kings Gate Club Quilts of Valor (KGC Quilts of Valor, 290 Avenue of Kings, Nokomis, FL 34275), Tidewell Hospice, or by donating blood to your local blood bank.
