Debbie Wierum, 69, of Lyonsville

LYONSVILLE >> Debbie Wierum died at her home in Lyonsville on Oct. 25, 2018, with her husband, Steve Ramsey, and her daughter, Sarah Ramsey, at her side. Her two sisters, Lis Wierum, and Cindy Rodman, were also there. The cause was colorectal cancer.

Deborah Hartt Wierum, 69, was born in Manhattan on April 3, 1949, and raised in Westport, Conn., by her loving parents, the late Thornton and Jean Wierum, formerly of Lanesboro, Mass.

Debbie graduated from Boston University in 1973 and had successful careers in both film and advertising. It was while serving as property master on the Emmy awardwinning miniseries for PBS, “Concealed Enemies,” that she met Steve, her husband of 33 years. After living in Boston for many years, she moved to New York City in 1984 to start her family with Steve. Debbie later joined the advertising business, helping to develop the first interactive digital advertising division for Grey Advertising in New York City as well as for FCB.

Debbie fell in love with Ulster County 25 years ago when she and Steve purchased a weekend home in the Marbletown area. Ten years ago, she turned this home into a fulltime residence to pursue her passion for gardening. She founded Marbletown Housetender in 2009 as a service to help local homeowners maintain their homes and gardens, but her true love was the gardening. Using talents learned at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, she created many beautiful gardens in the area, leaving a legacy on many properties around Ulster County.

Debbie had a large network of friends through her interests in horses, biking, travel, and reading, as well as through her work. A dedicated and loving mother, she also had many friends through her daughter, Sarah. She was devoted to her friends, neighbors and family and sincerely loved all of them. She had a genuine affection for animals and was deeply fond of her two late dogs, Lucy and Bayah, with whom she is now reunited.

She will be dearly missed.

Donations can be made to the Stone Ridge Library, the Rondout Valley Food Pantry, Fight Colorectal Cancer or your favorite charity.