Debra’s Celebration of Life Service

Debra Anne Kent-Dreyer August 19th, 1963— February 26th, 2009

Debra’s service was held on March 8th, 2009 at the Unity North Atlanta church. Debra’s life celebration service was everything she would have wanted and was a true celebration of her wonderful life. As a final post to Deb’s Journal, I have uploaded the audio recordings, all photos from the picture boards and other information from the service for all to know the story of this amazing and beautiful woman that touched so many of our lives.

For each section below, click the audio icon to listen to each section of service. Audio files are formatted as “mp3” files and can be played with most media players.

“The Secret of Life”
Penelope Williams
Audio Song

Welcome
The 23rd Psalm
Rev. Nancy Worth
Audio

Opening Prayer “The Lord’s Prayer”
Penelope Williams
Bill Barbuto
Audio Song

“The Prophet “ - On Death
by Kahlil Gibran
Rev. Nancy Worth
Audio

Words of Comfort and Eulogy
Barbara, Susan, Rod
Nancy Worth, Introduction
Barbara Wischmann, A Best Friend and Teacher
Susan Kent, Debra’s Little Sister
Rod Dreyer, Debra’s Husband and Soul mate

Words of Remembrance
Family and Friends
Audio

“Imagine”
Penelope Williams
Bill Barbuto
Audio Song

“The Traveler“ by James Dillet Freeman
Inspiration and Meditation
Words of Farewell
Closing Prayer
“Miss Me, But Let Me Go”
Rev. Nancy Worth
Audio

“Peace Song”
Penelope Williams
Audio Song

Rev. Nancy Worth, Senior Minister
Rev. Penelope Williams, Minister of Music

Debra’s Celebration of Life Pictures
Debra’s life celebration continued with a life of pictures to give you a great perspective of the full life that Deb lived from her early days to all of her adventures.

For each section, click the View Full Album to view Debra’s life pictures.

The Early Years

View Full Album


College and Fun

View Full Album


Marriage and Family

View Full Album

Friends and Adventures

View Full Album

Thank you for helping us celebrate Debra’s life
At 45, she was young and physically beautiful. She moved with a regal grace and ease developed very early as a ballet dancer and gymnast. She lived her life with great love, peace, discipline and joy. She was a soul mate to her husband, Rod and a loving and passionate mother to Taylor and Tommy. She touched so many people as a teacher, friend, dog lover, traveler, walker and reader. She was a powerful advocate for her students and their families. She was often described as “having such a light inside.” Her presence and beauty were compelling. Any experience was special because she was there.

Debra was diagnosed with cancer in July 2008. She inherited the same cancer that ended her father’s life when she was 17yo. Her illness saved the life of her sister , Susan, who has now been successfully treated after finding that she also, was positive for the same type of cancer. Her illness also prompted her brother, Stephen, to seek out the critical early diagnostic tests that he is currently undergoing.

One thing that has made her illness less stressful has been the support she has received from the Keheley Elementary school family and the community at Highland Ridge. They have provided food on a regular basis for the family for MONTHS. Such a prolonged show of love and tenderness has made our family rethink the way we will be in the future with others in crisis. The things we do for those in need makes the pain bearable. It, in the end , is really the only thing that is important. It is what goes on.

I believe she was a way shower for all of us who loved her. She loved to have fun and looked inside for guidance when making decisions. She was quick to focus on “priorities.” Family, friends, love, fun, teaching, reading, walking with dogs and ‘standing up for what you believe’ guided her day.

Thank you Debra for being a role model for how we might focus our day.

Connie Oden, Deb's Beautiful Aunt, Sister and Soulmate at heart

Coming Before Me
I look at her across the street.
Standing with her grown up friends and her grown up ways.

Her bus comes first and she rides by to the big school.
Memory is yellow, red, green, remembered bright.

She’s always riding by me, getting on before me, grown up.

I see her older now.
Taking care of me through a time I didn’t understand,
and that she understood all too well.
Everything remembered is blue and grey then, remembered dark.

She’s always older, understanding first, remember.

Today I see her, older still.
A mother now herself. Using all that she knows, all that she is. Memories to be made in yellow, red, blue, grey; clear and bright.

She’s always growing, making memories, coming before me.

And there’s comfort there. In her
coming first going before me,
clearing the way.
All grown up, yet still a way to go.

Susan C. Kent, August 20th, 1992
Susan wrote this for Deb 3 days after our first son Taylor was born on August 17th, 1992.




Florida Keys, June 2008

Our family will forever be grateful to each and every one of you for your incredible
compassion, kindness and love for our beautiful Debra Dreyer.
Rod Dreyer

Thank you to everyone for your help and prayers. My mom will forever be remembered..
Taylor Dreyer

I want to thank all of my dearest friends and family for supporting us in these challenging times. I won’t deny how hard it has been, but my mother left us in peace. My sincerest thank you to everyone.
Tommy Dreyer