Debra Michelle (Shukys) Gebler

Debra Michelle (Shukys) Gebler

December 26, 1956 - November 18, 2025

Debra “Debi” Michelle (Shukys) Gebler, age 68, of Chagrin Falls, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family. She faced cancer for more than two decades with remarkable courage, positivity and unwavering resilience.

Born on December 26, 1956, to Joseph and Mary Shukys, Debi was raised in the heart of Chagrin Falls, a place she cherished her entire life. She graduated from Chagrin Falls High School in 1975, where she met the love of her life, Mark, beginning a partnership built on devotion, laughter, and unwavering support.

In their early years together, Debi worked as a beautician, and the young couple made their first home in Solon before returning to Chagrin Falls to raise their three sons. Nothing meant more to her than family, and she carried that love into everything she did.

For many years, Debi proudly served the Chagrin Falls Schools as a secretary in the high school, middle school, and bus garage. Her warm smile, quick wit, and unmistakable school spirit touched generations of students, teachers, and families.

A natural leader with a lifelong passion for cheerleading, Debi, once a high school cheerleader herself, later returned to the sidelines as a coach for Chagrin Falls High School. She poured her heart into her cheer program, encouraging her athletes with the same strength and positivity she lived by. She was inducted into the Chagrin Falls Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 for her outstanding coaching abilities during her years as a head coach between 1982-2005. 

Debi’s greatest joy in life was her family. She is survived by her devoted husband Mark, and her beloved sons Scott (Rachel), Brett (Carin), Zak (Jennifer) and her brother John (Shirley) Patton. Nothing filled her heart more than her six beautiful grandchildren: Avery, Ty, Madison, Bree, Calvin, and Samuel, who brought her endless pride and light.

Anyone who knew Debi would say the same thing: she met every day with a smile and a strength that inspired everyone around her. Her favorite quote, “Attitude is Everything,” wasn’t just a saying she loved, it was the way she lived her life. Through every joy and every challenge, Debi carried a bright, positive spirit that lifted others and reminded them to keep going with grace, faith, and hope.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Bainbridge on Friday, December 5 at 11:00am. In place of a funeral home gathering, family and friends are invited to a luncheon downstairs following the Mass. All are welcome — whether attending the Mass, the luncheon, or both — to join in remembering and honoring Debi’s beautiful life, legacy and light. 

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