Deborah Grange O'Connor

Deborah (Debby) Grange O’Connor, age 85, of Corona, passed away peacefully in her home on September 18, 2026. She was surrounded by her loved ones, including her husband of 63 years, Joe, and her daughters Peggy and Colleen who provided loving care in her final weeks. She leaves behind her husband, 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Debby was born on May 1, 1941 in Pasadena, CA. She was the only daughter of Taber and Joan (Ahlswede) Grange and the sister to six brothers. Her happy childhood days were spent with her adventurous brothers and her many various pets including dogs, horses, and a tarantula). She enjoyed swimming, spending days at the beach and attending horse races with her grandparents. Debby loved learning and excelled at school and even skipped 3rd grade after contracting rheumatic fever. She graduated from Mayfield High School in Pasadena in 1958 and continued her studies at Dominican College in San Rafael, CA.

She was united in marriage to Joseph Patrick O’Connor, Jr. on January 19, 1963 and together they shared over 63 years of love and devotion to each other, their five children and their Catholic faith. She and Joe lived briefly in Alhambra before moving to Tustin, where they raised their family for the next 37 glorious years.

Debby’s Catholic faith led her to a wonderful life of Christian Service in both her professional and volunteer careers. In the early 70s, she served as a Right to Life Support Counselor for young pregnant women. She worked in the Emergency room at St Joseph’s and had stints at different medical and dental offices. Her most rewarding role was as Director of FISH (Friends in Service to Humanity). She worked for, then led, the organization for 17 years and executed a Mobile Meal Program, Rental Assistance, Child Care support, and other services for needy families in Orange County. She also served on the Board of Directors for 2nd Harvest Food Bank and was a cabinet member for United Way Affiliated Agencies.

Debby was also very active in parish life. She and Joe were members of St Cecilia in Tustin for 37 years, and of St Mary Magdalene in Corona since 2003. At St. Cecilia’s, she started a Christian Service Ministry reaching out to the needy. She was a member of the first St Cecilia Parish Council, was involved with the Serra Club, and was nominated as “Catholic Woman of the Year” in Orange County. She loved her St Cecilia community, especially her mass group, “The Notso’s” who enjoyed daily mass and entertaining coffee outings each week. This group of women became her life-long friends. The zeal for an active parish life carried over to St Mary Magdalene where Debby and Joe remained involved in Christian Service activities and served as a eucharistic minister and lector. She cherished the time spent with friends at daily mass, Sunday mass, and appreciated being a part of this growing parish community.

Joe and Debby’s retirement years began after moving to the new Trilogy community in Corona in 2002. They quickly joined up with fellow retirees to enjoy golf, water aerobics, bridge games and hosting happy hours. Joe and Debby caught the travel bug and enjoyed beach vacations and cruising around the world. However, they most enjoyed traveling to visit their son Matt in Peru, and to Michigan and Ohio to see their son Joey and his kids and grandkids.

Family was most important to Debby, and she was lovingly known as Grammy to her 10 grandchildren. She was happiest when she had all her kids together and loved throwing big family celebrations. Debby also enjoyed entertaining friends, preparing wonderful meals, and celebrating life with both her church and Trilogy friends.

Debby is survived by her husband Joe; her five children Joe III (Debbie) O’Connor, Peggy (Rich) Abrom, Kevin (Celeste) O’Connor, Matt O’Connor, Colleen (Jeff) Jensen; ten grandchildren Shane (Abby), Trevor (Andrea), and Ryan (Anna) O’Connor; Meghan, Molly, Luke, and Sean Abrom; Kate and Madison O’Connor; Georgia Jensen; Great Granddaughter Jude, and Great Grandsons Casey, Rory, Kellan; her brothers Chris, Mike, Pete, Steve, and Bill. Debby was preceded in death by her parents and brother Tabor Grange, III.

Funeral Services will begin with a Rosary then Mass on Thursday, October 1st at 11:00am, at St. Mary Magdalene, 8540 Weirick Road, Corona. Burial Services will be held on Friday, October 2nd, at 11:00am at Holy Sepulcher, 7845 E. Santiago Canyon Orange.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to one of Debby’s favorite charities,The Padre Pio Foundation of America