Obituary: Deborah "Debbie" A. Walls, 63, Monroe Educator

Deborah Ann Walls, 63, of Newtown Connecticut, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, October 6, 2017 surrounded by family after her battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Noel B. Walls; son Jason M. Walls and wife Alexis A. Walls of Cos Cob, CT; and daughter Rebecca A. Walls of Medford, MA. Born April 30, 1954 in Bridgeport CT to Columbus J. and Catherine F. Rossi, Deborah leaves behind her Mother; her loving sister Linda Finocchi and husband Douglas and her brother-in-law James Walls and wife Nancy.

Debbie was an alumnus of Notre Dame High School of Fairfield CT, and received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State University. She attended the College of New Rochelle for her Masters Degree, and was certified as a Reading and Language Arts Consultant from the State of Connecticut. An avid follower of Marie Clay's global work on educational literacy, Debbie was a local pioneer in early childhood intervention, Reading Recovery, and also received a certification in this specialized program.

Teaching children to read was Debbie's career-long passion. Working in the field of education for 30 years, the majority were spent with the Monroe Board of Education. Beginning as a classroom teacher, Debbie ultimately served as Reading and Language Arts Coordinator for the three elementary schools in the district and spearheaded the school-wide reading initiative, "One School One Book," which later evolved into "One Town One Book." She established multiple teacher-training programs including, "The Partnership of Comprehensive Literacy" and a partnership with Columbia University's Teachers College that provided Monroe educators with an annual series of week-long intensive workshops and training.

However, Debbie's greatest devotion in life was to her husband and two children, as well as her very close circle of life-long friends. She enjoyed holidays with family, traveling with loved ones, and especially treasured her time at the beach. Whether Seaside Park, Cape Cod, Avon-by-the-Sea or "Her" island of Aruba, you could always find Debbie with her toes in the sand and a good book in hand.

Family and friends visited at Spadaccino and Gallagher Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe Connecticut on Monday, October 9th from 4pm to 8pm. A Catholic Mass was held at Saint Rose of Lima on 46 Church Hill Road in Newtown, Connecticut on Tuesday, October 10th at 10am with a burial ceremony immediately following at Mount Saint Peters cemetery, 219 New Haven Avenue, Derby Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Lung Cancer Alliance, found at this address www.lungcanceralliance.org.

Obituary and photo courtesy of the Spadaccino and Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home.