Deborah J. Gross
Our dearly loved sister slipped away peacefully on December 26, 2025 after a year long battle with stage 4 cancer.
Debbie was the third daughter born to Virginia and William Gross in Hollywood, California. The family moved to Westwood when Debbie was four and then to Santa Barbarba when she was seven. In Santa Barbara she attended Montecito Union, Crane Country Day School, Santa Barbara Junior High and graduated in 1967 from Santa Barbara High School. After high school she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for two years where she graduated with an AA Degree in 1969. She then returned to Santa Barbara where she resided the remainder of her life.
Debbie worked in a variety of jobs until she was hired by Audax Corporation in 1973. Starting out as a secretary and bookkeeper, she worked her way up to become a business manager, handling all corporation, construction and property management accounting and duties. When Audax closed, she then went on to work for American Capital Management until she retired.
Travel was always important to Debbie and she became a world traveler. She spent two years traveling with friends across Europe, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. She then went on to travel to Mexico, Alaska, France, Greece, Italy and the Caribbean. Over the years Debbie also travelled extensively throughout the United States, visiting friends and family and exploring new locations. On her travels she loved to collect souvenirs for her home and gifts for friends and family. Her home is still an eclectic collection of items she found on her many travel adventures.
Debbie’s love of gardening was inherited from her mother, and she became a master at it, surrounding her home with beautiful plants and flowers, especially roses. She enjoyed sharing these flowers with her many friends and neighbors. Whenever anyone visited overnight, there was always a vase with fresh flowers in the room to welcome them.
Debbie’s favorite holiday was Christmas, and she collected hundreds of Christmas decorations, large and small to mark the occasion. She loved decorating for the Christmas season and for many years held an annual Christmas party, sharing her beautiful decorations with everyone.
Debbie passed away peacefully under hospice care at home, surrounded by her three sisters. Her favorite holiday decorations, including a live Christmas tree, and a multitude of her favorite flowers were covering every available surface in her home.
Debbie is survived by her three sisters: Virginia Milhoan (John), Alexis Willey and Laura Murphy (Mike). She will always be remembered for her joyful enthusiasm for life, her courage and grace, the respect and dignity with which she treated others and for her great love of Christmas and flowers. She was always the one that could be counted on to help, in any way she could when someone was in need. Thank you so much Debbie for all you have done and all you have given. It has been an honor and a privilege to be your sisters.
The family would like to extend special appreciation to VNA Health Hospice, Dr. Michael Bordofsky and Dr. Juliet Penn. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity, plant a garden or help someone in need in her honor. A celebration of life will be held April 1st with details announced at a later date.
