Debbie Jean Caferro
The celebration of Debbie Jean Caferro’s life was held June 21 at the Whitefish Assembly of God Church followed by a luncheon and graveside services. The Celebration honored a truly amazing woman. The nearly 500 people who attended her service were a testimonial to how many lives she touched and the lasting impact she made on each one.
Debbie's family would like to express their appreciation for the kindness and generosity of those involved in her service and to those who provided for our needs at this difficult time. Her greatest accomplishments were all wrapped up in the achievements of others. Debbie gave the ultimate support any person could ever hope for.
Debbie passed away June 15 in a car accident. She was the third daughter born to Cec and Patty Caferro on Christmas Eve in 1954. Like her dad, Debbie was raised in the Whitefish neighborhood known as Little Italy, and lived in the Flathead Valley for most of her life. Debbie graduated from Whitefish High School in 1973 and later from Flathead Valley Community College.
The births of her two children with Don McConnell were the happiest moments of Debbie’s life. Debbie enjoyed anything that her children were passionate about, like Karl’s gardening and Shawna’s photography. She loved spending time at their beach on Whitefish Lake, family picnics at Lake McDonald and skiing on Big Mountain, where she also taught children to ski.
The needs of others were the focus of Debbie’s professional, personal and faith life. She certainly met the needs of young children through her work as a special educator at Muldown Elementary School. In the classroom she worked directly with children who have special needs. Debbie carried her young students’ successes and their struggles in her heart, never letting go of their potential.
In 2005, Debbie advocated strongly for children’s health care. Due to Debbie’s persistence and unwillingness to take “no” for an answer from her elected officials, she is credited for increasing access to health care for more than 7,000 very low income children.
Debbie always “showed up” to support the music community, her nephew’s boxing career, her sister’s political affairs, her church family in their time of need, and to watch her children, her nephews, and her nieces play soccer, the list goes on and on. She was and always will be there for us — her siblings. Debbie was the wind beneath our wings.
As a devoted Christian, Debbie was a member of the Whitefish Assembly of God Church, and she often ignited the prayer chain as a true believer in the power of prayer.
Debbie is survived by her children, Karl and Shawna McConnell, whom she loved so very much; her siblings, Sharon Hale, Terrie Senese, Mary, Frank and Duran Caferro; nieces and nephews, (Sharon's family) Jesse, Carlin, Mia, and Keysa Hale, (Terrie's family) Spencer, Beth, Alyx, and Conner McMahan, and Tony, Michelle, and baby Isla Senese, (Mary's family) Margaret, Hallie, Kenji, and Joseph Swain, (Frank's family) Gabbie Caferro, (Duran's family) Duran Jr. and Buster Caferro. Debbie has joined her parents, Cec and Patty, in heaven.
Donations in her memory can be made to the Debbie Caferro Memorial Fund at the Whitefish Credit Union, 300 Baker Ave., Whitefish, MT 59937.