Deborah “Debbie” Kehoe-Heffernan left this world unexpectedly on January 25, 2026.
Debbie was a wife to Patrick Charles Heffernan, whom she followed with her heart to sunny Florida in 2012.
She was a daughter to Dale and Karen Ehrhart, who preceded her in death.
She was a devoted mother to Kevin Stirling Kehoe and Courtney Lynn Kehoe-Huntoon from her marriage to David Stirling Kehoe, who preceded her in death.
She was “Momster” to Jonathan Huntoon, a joyful “DeeDee” to her treasured grandchildren; Emerson and Bennett Kehoe, and a devoted “Lovie” to Everett, Hayden and Pierson Huntoon—each one, a living reflection of her love.
With bonds of deep and unique affection being raised as the only girl in a family of three boys, she was a sister to Stephen, Jeffrey, and Donald Ehrhart, and a sister-in-law to Priscilla Ehrhart, Marci Ehrhart, Dianna Ehrhart, JoAnn Heffernan-Heisen and Peg Cottrell.
To old friends who knew well that sparkle of mischief in her eye—she was “Debster,” fearless, quick-witted, and always just one good laugh away from trouble.
She was “Mon Amie” to an entire Ellicott City community—most especially to her best friend, Kimberly Kepnes, whose bond with Debbie was stitched together by loyalty, laugher and unbreakable love.
Debbie was a princess who once lived in a real Castle, and she was a child of “Baby Jesus” for her entire life—carrying faith and sharing daily devotions to keep our faiths ahead of our sights with grace and joy - rarely quietly- always sincerely.
Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Debbie raised her family in Ellicott City, Maryland, where her creativity and courage flourished. A homemaker turned entrepreneur; she opened a first-of-its-kind ladies’ boutique in Historic Ellicott City called Mon Amie. From there, she helped bring to life fun and beloved local businesses including ScoopAHHdeedoo, and The Little French Market Café—places where friendships formed easily with lattes and ice cream spiked with her humor and a smile.
While in Florida, she charmed the Red Barn retail community and brightened the days of hundreds of thousands of shoppers from her perch at The Painted Gate gift shop—doing what she did best: welcoming strangers as friends.
Debbie believed in being waited on and proudly never pumped a tank of gas in her entire life. She loved-loved-loved generously. She laughed loudly, breaking us down with every single cackle.
Her memory will live on in echoes of shared laughter, retold stories of Debbie-antics, in mis-applied cliches, in all her acts of kindness—and, perhaps most of all, in the light shining back from the eyes of those grandbabies.
A service will be held at Bayside Community Church, North River Campus, in Parrish, Florida, on Saturday, February 7, 2026, offering a time for those who knew and loved Debbie in Florida to gather in remembrance. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m., followed by a service at 11:00 a.m.
A celebration of life will follow at a later date in Ellicott City, Maryland—the place where Debbie spent much of her life and where her spirit was woven into the streets, shops, and hearts of so many.
In lieu of flowers, Debbie would want you to make a wish, change your life, and start today by committing to following your heart.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209, is in charge of arrangements.
