Deborah Doherty-Williams Obituary

Red Hook - On the night of September 9th,2023, Deborah Doherty-Williams (age 68) passed away in the comfort of her home surrounded with love by her immediate family; husband Jeffrey Williams, and daughters Lindsay, Kaitlin and Jessica. Born in Boston, MA on September 16th,1954 to parents Joseph (Bud) Doherty and Margaret (Peg) Moran, Deb was raised alongside her older brother Dennis, and younger brothers, David and Daniel Doherty. The family lived in various locations in Massachusetts until settling in Rhinebeck, NY, in April of 1964 when Deb was 9 years old. Deborah would walk to school daily from her home on 61 Livingston Street. She enjoyed living in her small town, developing friendships in her close-knit neighborhood that would last a lifetime. So full of energy and adventure, Deb participated in numerous activities, clubs, and sports including cheerleading, school plays, choir, Spanish club, chefs club, ski club, hall patrol, volleyball, and field hockey. Deborah survived the passing of her mother during her senior year in high school. In 1972 her senior year in high school Deb's beloved mother, Peg, passed away after battling Hodgkins Lymphoma. Her father, Bud, passed in 1989. Each summer, Deb and her family would visit their grandparents' home in Hampton Beach, NH on Williams Street (now known as Lyons Street), one block from the beach. Hampton Beach was a special place for her. On occasion she would stay the entire summer working at local businesses. The beach, arcades, shops, restaurants, bars, and large music venue made for an exciting place to spend a vacation. Fried whole belly clams at Browns were a "must have" each year. No matter what life brought; graduating from high school in 1972, going to college, getting married, and raising a family, she never missed a yearly visit to Hampton Beach. Although they attended the same small school since 6th grade, Deb first "met" her future husband Jeff, on their senior trip to Washington, DC in 1972. A mutual friend (Pat Curthoys) introduced them at a hotel room party and the rest is history. Deb and Jeff married in 1977 and remained together for 51 years until her passing. Deborah spent her early college years attending SUNY Geneseo, Dutchess Community College, and SUNY Cortland. She received an Associate's in 1974 and received a Bachelor's degree in Health Education in 1976. While in Cortland, NY, Deb found a 1-month-old, stray puppy one day that ran under her car. She named him J. D. (Jeff and Deb) and brought him into a loving home where he was cherished until he passed away at age 14. In 1976 Deborah moved with her husband, Jeff, to Ithaca, NY where she worked at Planned Parenthood while her husband attended veterinary school at Cornell University. After several years at Planned Parenthood, Deb attended SUNY Binghamton where, in 1982, she graduated first in her class with a Master's degree in accounting. Jeff graduated from veterinary school the same year and same day as Deb. After graduation from SUNY Binghamton, Deb and Jeff moved to Massachusetts where she worked as an accountant for a large retail store. In 1983, Deb and Jeff moved back to the Hudson Valley where Deb worked at various accounting firms until starting a family in 1986. She had three beautiful daughters all delivered at the newly opened Neugarten Birth Center at Northern Dutchess hospital in Rhinebeck, NY. Lindsay was born in 1986, Kaitlin in 1988 and Jessica in 1989. The family lived for 15 years on Feller-Newmark Road in Red Hook, NY. In 2000 they discovered a gorgeous mountain view property on Williams Road in Red hook, NY where they designed and built their dream home. Deb was a wonderful mom and loved almost every minute of it. She was a great supporter, hype woman and best friend to her girls. She kept them active, taking the girls to swimming lessons, soccer, softball, gymnastics, and school plays. In addition to school events; "play dates", travel, and holidays occupied her time while raising the children. Her daughters loved their "special days" most of all, and "backwards dinner nights". Music was a constant in Deborah's life. There was always something playing in the house when the children were growing up. They knew many of the lyrics to Tears for Fears, The Cranberries, Michael Jackson, and Imogen Heap before they were in middle school. Deb also enjoyed Zero Seven, Beth Orten, Garbage, Sofi Tukker, Sneaker Pimps and many others. Deb and Jeff loved history and exploring new places. Thanks to Debs' insistence they found time to travel around the U. S. and abroad. One memorable time was a tour bus trip of the west that included Cheyenne, WY; Rapid City, SD; Mt. Rushmore; Crazy Horse Mountain; Spearfish canyon; Devils Tower; Deadwood, WY; Cody, WY; Yellowstone National Park; the Grand Tetons; Jackson Hole, WY, with it's million-dollar cowboy bar that has saddles for bar stools, and finished up at the Mormon tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. Seeing Aerosmith at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was a special bonus on a trip to the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Lake Meade. Deb swore the men on the stair landing at Ceasar's Palace were Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. When Jeff saw these long- haired guys from behind walking away he told her "No way"; turns out she was right! She chased after them and Deb and Jeff got to shake Joe Perry's hand as Steven Tyler was heading down the stairs. (She swore never to wash that hand) Before going to San Antonio for a conference they visited Austin and enjoyed the music scene on 6th street. On a vacation to Memphis, TN, she and Jeff enjoyed all the blues bands up and down Beale Street for hours. Tours of Stax and Sun studios as well as Graceland made for great trip. Turns out, she has the same birthday as B. B. King! Trips overseas to Ireland ("Our Irish Lass"), England ("The Ripper!"), Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Paris, Venice, Tuscany, Milan and Rome were times she never stopped talking about. As her daughter, Lindsay, grew up they would travel around the country. Mother's Day week would be a special time for a road trip; California, Maine, NYC, Finger Lakes, Florida, and their last, Rhode Island, to name a few great trips. One of Deb's favorite pastimes was sitting on the back porch with her dog Jewel, a Jack Russell terrier given to the family as a puppy, watching the beautiful sunsets over the Catskill Mountains while enjoying a drink, a "toke' and some music. It was our "Sunset Celebration" (as they say on Key West). Deb is survived by her brothers Dennis Doherty of Athens GA; David Doherty of Yuma, AZ and Dan Doherty of Lancaster. She is also survived by her daughters Lindsay Williams of East Hampton, CT; Kaitlin Williams of Red Hook, NY; Jessica Williams of Meriden, CT and by her husband Jeffrey Williams of Red Hook, NY. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Arrangements under the direction of the Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, Rhinebeck, NY 12572. A Celebration of Life will be held at Deb and Jeff's Home on Saturday September 16 from 3pm to 5pm, 20 Williams Rd. , Red Hook, NY 12571. To send an online condolence, please visit www. dapsonchestney. com