Deborah I Bellavia

 Deborah Isabelle (Holstad) Bellavia peacefully transitioned during her favorite time of the year on October 12, 2018. Born on September 14, 1950 in Oceanport, NJ, Debbie was the only daughter and second child born to Master Sergeant James N. Holstad and Elizabeth E. Holstad of Hamburg, New Jersey. During her life, Debbie resided in Baghdad, Iraq; Frankfurt and Heidelberg, Germany; and Newark, East Hanover, and Vernon, New Jersey.

As a child in Baghdad, she was the first American to participate in a televised ballet ensemble. Later, Debbie attended Vailsburg High School for 3 years and graduated from Hanover Park High School, Class of 1968. Debbie married John Bellavia on October 3, 1971 and recently celebrated 47 years of marriage. They were active members of the Vernon Township School District where Debbie was a special needs assistant at Rolling Hills Primary School for many years. Debbie and John moved to Raleigh, NC in 2004 to be close to their children and grandchildren in retirement.

Debbie had a love for animals and was a gentle, compassionate champion for children who had special needs, especially Downs Syndrome. She loved to support her son in the Special Olympics, shop with her daughter and grandchildren, enjoy lunches out with her husband and friends, bake delicious Italian food and other family recipes, watch reality television and animal videos, and cheered for her grandchildren’s school and sports activities. Most of all, Debbie personified grace, determination, resilience, and endurance as a warrior in her fight against diabetes.

She is survived by her beloved husband, John; cherished children, Jennifer (Dave) Scott and James Bellavia; precious grandchildren, Julia and Brady Scott; son-of-the-heart, Toma Vincent, all of Raleigh, NC; and her dearest big brother, Terry (Kathy) Holstad of South Riding, VA. Additional survivors include adored in-laws Anthony (Irene) Bellavia and family of Ormond Beach, FL; Dino (Mary) Bellavia and family of Somerset, NJ; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews (the Holstads, Sharpes, Fergusons, Bellavias, Cordines, and Trakhtmans) who will sorely miss their fun-loving, fierce-fighting aunt.

A side from her devoted family, Debbie will be greatly missed by her special friends, Liz and Phil Anzelone, Kelsha and Tim Wright and Liz and Doug Scott, as well as her darling cats, Twister and Sofia. In addition, her family would like to thank her team of 13 dedicated doctors for caring for her wellness for many years.

 A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 21, 2018 in the Chapel of Bright Funeral Home 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC 27587.

www.brightfunerals.com

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