Debbie A. O’Leary

Debbie A. O’Leary, 65, of DeWitt, IA, passed peacefully on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Allure of the Quad Cities, Moline, IL, with her daughter and son-in-law at her side. A funeral service will be held at 1 PM on Monday, December 1, 2025, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel in Galena, IL. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Galena. Deborah Ann Johnson was born on November 4, 1960, in Cuba City, WI, the daughter of Thomas and Darlene (Berlage) Johnson. Debbie grew up in Galena, spending most of her years there before moving to Iowa. Debbie worked for many years at the printing company in Eldridge before moving into customer service at Walmart, where her kindness, sass, and humor made an impression on countless people. She grew up a member of St. Mary’s Church in Galena and later attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in DeWitt. Debbie enjoyed being active in her community, joining the DeWitt Garden club, participating in a bowling league, and proudly advocating for Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness. She found joy in DeWitt’s Tunes in Town, the farmers’ market, and exploring antique stores wherever she could see them. Creativity was at the heart of Debbie’s life. She loved arts and crafts of every kind; diamond art, Christmas lanterns, handmade jewelry, and so much more, and she always had a thoughtful, handmade gift ready for someone she cared about. Puzzles kept her busy, and decorating for every holiday brought joy to anyone who walked through her door. She treasured feeding and watching the hummingbirds and cardinals outside her home and took great pride in her garden, gladly teaching anyone who wanted to learn. She loved to capture life’s moments, never hesitating to snap a photo to remember a feeling, a place, and a smile. Debbie lived and breathed the color purple. She was bold, brave, tough, and an extraordinary woman. As she once shared in an article about her cancer journey: “My purpose in life since 2019 is to be thankful for every day God allows me to open my eyes and put a smile on people’s faces when I see them, whether I know them or not. Most of all, I like to make people laugh. We need laughter every day in our lives … to act like a kid no matter your age.” Debbie is survived by her beloved daughter, Kaitlyn (Justin) Furlough; mother, Darlene Greibe; sister, Diana Silvera; uncle, John (Marilyn) Berlage; family, Gaylon Folks and Bill & Jeanie Bussan; great friends, Tina Connor, Virg Connor, Arlene & Brian Barclay, Brianna & Emily DeGraff, Joan & Bob Reynolds; and a host of many others who loved her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael O’Leary; her father, Thomas Johnson; her brothers, Daniel and David Johnson; her grandmother, Stella Berlage; and her uncles, Dennis and Ronald Berlage. The family would like to send a thank-you to anyone who helped Debbie throughout her journey, whether it was for a ride to the doctor, taking her grocery shopping, or simply being a friend. Above all, Debbie hoped people would remember her favorite reminder to take one day at a time and never forget to smile. Memorials can be made to the family or the DeWitt Referral Center. Online condolences may be left for the family at  www.furlongfuneralchapel.com