Deborah Ann Forestal

Dec 8, 1951 -

Mar 27, 2020

Deborah Ann Forestal, 68, of Anchorage, Alaska, died at home on March 27, 2020.

Debbie was born on Dec. 8, 1951, in Philadelphia, Pa., the third of five children of Joseph Forestal, Jr. and Audrey (Davidson) Forestal. She grew up in Chicago, Ill., where she graduated from Sullivan High School in 1970. Over the following 20 years, she raised a daughter, went to college, traveled and worked in the fields of medical records and cancer registry. She moved to Denver, Colo., in 1993 and spent time long-distance bike riding, collecting antiques, quilting, and doing puzzles, genealogy and needlework. At one point she had one of the largest potato chip can collections in the country. For years she shared her life with a cantankerous Amazon parrot named Gus whom she adored and spoiled. In 2007 she moved to Anchorage to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Despite struggles with chronic pain and loss of mobility, she was fiercely independent and continued with many of her hobbies until the end of her life. She enjoyed being a grandmother and shared her sense of humor, creativity and love with her four grandchildren. Debbie had a special place in her heart for people who were struggling and marginalized and was active throughout her life in organizations that supported those who needed extra help. She was a talented writer and a natural historian who knew how to capture memories and events vividly. Her lively personality, intelligence and sense of humor will be dearly missed.

She is predeceased by her father, Joseph Forestal; mother, Audrey (Davidson) Forestal; and sister, Terry Forestal. She is survived by her daughter, Kelly Forestal; her son-in-law, Gerald Forestal; her four grandchildren, Caleb, Cassandra, Patrick and Shannon Forestal; her sister, Merilee Catero (Andrew); her brothers, Joseph Forestal and Ted Forestal; her sister-in-law, Debbie Ledenbach (Chris); and her niece, Merilee Aguirre (Christian).

Due to travel and gathering restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, no memorial service is planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to AWAIC, Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, a shelter for women affected by domestic violence in Anchorage.

If you prefer to donate by check or money order, please mail your contribution to: AWAIC, 100 W. 13th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501; www.awaic.org.

"'Hope' is the thing with feathers, That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops, at all." – Emily Dickinson