Deborah Shaw

Deborah ("Debbie") Cheryl Shaw, age 64, died on December 3, 2014 at Angela Hospice in Livonia after a heroic five-year battle with ovarian cancer. She leaves behind her mother, Maxine Shaw, her loving daughters, Heather Summers of San Diego and Megan Blaszak of Royal Oak, as well as her devoted sister Pamela Shaw, nieces Kimberly Alcantara and Rebecca Oistad, seven adoring grand-nephews and grand-nieces, and numerous appreciative "children" from her many years of hosting foreign exchange students for whom she made the world a smaller place. Debbie was born in Dearborn to Maxine Shaw and the late Arthur Shaw. Debbie attended Dearborn High School, before heading to Michigan State University, where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority and received her B.A. in Secondary Education. Debbie later earned Masters degrees in Speech-Language Pathology, Special Education, and Clinical Social Work, and worked for nearly 40 years with Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Social Worker and Special Education professional. Debbie was a resident of Grosse Ile for 17 years. Debbie enthusiastically hosted many international exchange students, eventually affiliating with AYUSA, a nonprofit exchange student organization. Debbie would later become Senior Regional Director for AYUSA, managing student placements throughout southeastern Michigan. In recent years, Debbie enjoyed cherished excursions with her daughters and family members to Marco Island, San Francisco, northern Michigan, Switzerland, Alaska, and Ireland. Debbie was a deeply spiritual, warmhearted, empathetic, and introspective nurturer. Her thoughtful reflection and genuine compassion for those around her will be gratefully remembered and dearly missed by all those who were blessed to know her. Beloved exchange students from all over the world have visited Debbie in recent weeks and months. Debbie requested to be cremated. Her ashes will be interred at Elk Lake. A memorial service followed by a luncheon will be held on Sunday, December 7 at 1:00 pm at the Grosse Ile Presbyterian Church, 7925 Horsemill Road, Grosse Ile, MI 48138. Pastor Philip Reed will be officiating. To RSVP for luncheon, please email DCShawRSVP@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (www.ocrf.org).