Obituary of Debora Louise Martin

Debora Louise Martin, of Leesburg, Virginia, passed away from complications due to mesenteric ischemia in the early morning hours of 17 May 2013 at Virginia Hospital Center. She was surrounded by family and friends. Debora was born on 20 March 1947 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Esther Noble Peck Martin and John Graham Martin. She was raised in Orange, Connecticut and later moved to Long Beach, California, where she was affectionately known to close friends as "Phoebe" following an eventful trip to Mexico. In the early 1980s, Debora relocated to the Washington, DC area and purchased a farm in Round Hill, Virginia on what is now Stoneleigh Golf and Country Club. Finally, she moved to Leesburg, Virginia with her two children near Balls Bluff National Park. A nurse who dedicated her life to healthcare, Debora worked for many years at the Loudoun Long Term Care facility in Leesburg. She was an avid gardener, at both Ida Lee Park and at her homes, and enjoyed providing family and friends with organic produce. Debora was a member of the Leesburg Presbyterian Church, and a philanthropist who actively supported Médecins Sans Frontières, National Public Radio, and the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter. Debora is survived by her children, John Edward Papaleo and Teresa Louise Papaleo, of Leesburg and Alexandria, Virginia, respectively; by her brother, Edward Martin of Orange, Connecticut; and by her sister, Esther Martin of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Debora was formerly married to Colin Bell and Anthony Dominick Papaleo. The family would like to express our gratitude to the doctors and staff of the Virginia Hospital Center and the Cherrydale Health and Rehabilitation Center. We would also like to request that any donations be made to the aforementioned charitable organizations. Online condolences can be made at www.rappfuneral.com