In Memory
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Crossroads Church Oakley Chapel, located at 3500 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209 (east/chapel entrance). Gathering begins at 12:30 PM, followed by the service at 1:00 PM. A Memorial Reception will take place afterward at Grove Park Grill (6735 Kellogg Ave). Guests are encouraged to wear bright and cheerful attire.
The link to the Obituary follows.
Ellen Debra (Debbie) Richardson June 21,1947
Ellen Debra Richardson (Fellabom) of Cincinnati, Ohio passed away peacefully on Saturday March 8th, 2025. Debra was born on June 21,1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the late Edgar Earl Fellabom Jr. and Barbara Martin Ferguson Frazier. She was a graduate of Mt. Lebanon High School and the University of Kentucky where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and completed her degree in Radio & Television Broadcasting.
Debra led a remarkable 20-year career at the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, serving as the Executive Director of the Downtown Council of Cincinnati. She played a pivotal role in creating many downtown promotional events including Party in the Park, Taste of Cincinnati, and Oktoberfest Zinzinnati. Debra was deeply passionate about her career and skilled at bringing people together. Her exuberant personality and sharp wit made her uniquely suited for the work that contributed to making downtown Cincinnati such a vibrant place to this day.
Despite suffering a stroke at age 45, she never let her disability define her. Her absolute love of music was a central theme in her life be it home, in the car or out and about. Isle of Palms, South Carolina was her favorite vacation spot where you could always find her enjoying the beach like the bathing beauty she was! But most of all, she cherished any time her family was all together whether it was for a holiday or at the beach.
Debra will be deeply missed by her children Alexis Bruning (Benedict), Zack Ficke (MaryAlice), Adam Richardson, and stepdaughter Lindsey Richardson (Aaron Dun). Loving sister to Edgar "Tripp" Earl Fellabom III and his wife, Leslie. Proud aunt to Andrew Fellabom (Camila) and Madeline Harman (Chris). Her six grandchildren-Evelyn and Violet Bruning, James, Ethan and Ella Ficke, and Audrey Richardson Dun - were the light of her life, showering her with love while enjoying Grandma Deb's endless supply of treats.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Crossroads Church Oakley Chapel, located at 3500 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209 (east/chapel entrance). Gathering begins at 12:30 PM, followed by the service at 1:00 PM. A Memorial Reception will take place afterward at Grove Park Grill (6735 Kellogg Ave). Guests are encouraged to wear bright and cheerful attire.
Debra had a profound love for animals, especially her beloved dogs Beau and the late Gus. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to All Dogs Come From Heaven Rescue (alldogscomefromheaven.com) or by mail to 1894 Ohio Pike, Building A, Amelia, Ohio 45102. Contributions may also be made to the American Stroke Association (stroke.org) or by mail to PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284.
Debra's warmth, humor, and unwavering spirit touched everyone who knew her. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered with love.
FOR DETAILS & MAPS TO THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE REVIEW THE OBITUARY:
Susan L Fleming (Morgans)
Debbie was one of my dearest friends from junior high until her passing. My mom was at first wary of our friendship in 7th grade because Debbie seemed so "sophisticated." And Debbie remained so, even after her initial stroke at age 45 paralyzed her on one side and ended her career (although she remained a great mom, not easy with only one hand). She continued to dress beautifully, have her hair done each week and maintain a lovely home. Debbie and I lived together for a short time in Washington, D.C., after college, and I was in her wedding to Geoff, father of her daughter, Alexis, and son, Zak. I was fortunate to be able to attend both Alexis's and Zak's weddings, and to get to know Adam, her son from her second marriage, as well as her stepdaughter, Lindsey. I helped her plan her mother's funeral in Pittsburgh and clean out her dad's house in Charleston after he passed. Debbie definitely was a character—funny, incredibly stubborn and constantly on a mission to find something beautiful to buy. Her sense of humor, love of shopping, and above all, her stubbornness (along with her love for her kids and grandkids) is what I believe enabled her to make it to age 77 despite the physical limitations she faced. We truly had a life-long friendship. I treasure it and I will miss her.
Susan Daniell (Donaldson)
Debbie was a wonderful friend. Always glamorous and always kind. We tried to go to a dance at Annapolis Naval Academy on November of 1963 but it was canceled because of the Kennedy assignation. They rescheduled and we went the following weekend but stopped by the Kennedy gravesite on the way home. What a moment! The President of Uganda presented flowers to the grave while we watched. That was an amazing moment and a growing up memory! Major impact! Deb was fun and loving always!