Mrs. Deborah Ann Van Fossen Choquette, affectionately known as Debbie to her friends and family, left this world after a valiant effort by emergency personnel to keep her here with us on May 14, 2025, after a long battle with a list of compounding health challenges.
Born on June 8, 1954, Debbie’s life was a testament to the love and care she brought into the world. She was a beacon of light and warmth to all who knew her, living her 70 years with an unwavering commitment to her family, her nursing profession, and her community.
Debbie was a native of Frederick, Md., where she spent much time with family before embarking on a lifelong journey of public service. She graduated from the Peninsula Regional School of Nursing in 1975 and also enriched her knowledge by studying psychology at Salisbury State. Her passion for helping others led her to a distinguished career in nursing, which spanned over three decades. Debbie retired from the Worcester County Health Department in May 2016 after dedicating herself to the well-being of her community as a public health nurse. Before her tenure at the Health Department, Debbie also served with compassion at Frederick Memorial, PRMC, and McCready Hospital.
The void left by Debbie’s departure is deeply felt by her loving and devoted husband of nearly 43 years, Rick, and their children: son, Chip (Michele) Choquette, and daughters, Tina (Candy) Brown and Missy (Clint) Larmore. Debbie’s joy was multiplied by her grandchildren, Alex Holland, Russell and Avery Larmore, Luke, Ellie, and Makenna Choquette, and one great-grandchild on the way. Paul and Samantha Baysinger, the children of close neighbors, were also very special to her.
She is also survived by her brother, Mark (Patricia) Van Fossen; sisters, Cindy and Marian Van Fossen; her second mother Louise Van Fossen; as well as her many nieces and nephews, though she shared a special relationship with her niece and nephew, Cati and PJ Renshaw and Cati’s son Brennan. She had many close neighbors and friends whom she considered as much a part of her family as any blood relative. Debbie was preceded in death by her father, James Van Fossen, and her mother, Peggy Burdette Van Fossen. Each family member and friend was a cherished jewel in her life.
Aside from her professional achievements, Debbie found joy in the art of gardening for many years, nurturing vegetables and flowers in her yard. Among her fondest memories were her travels with friends and family through the years. Her grandchildren, both biological and bonus, were the apple of her eye, and she invested her time and energy into making memories that would last a lifetime. Debbie’s dedication to her family was unwavering, and she often put their needs above her own, a true embodiment of a loving and thoughtful matriarch.
Debbie’s life journey was a mirror of her values — loving, selfless, and thoughtful in every act. Her legacy is one of love and service, and she will be remembered for her unwavering kindness and the gentle strength she displayed throughout her life.
As the family bids farewell in celebration of the remarkable woman she was and the countless lives she touched, they ask that anyone who has any special memories or stories of Debbie write them down and send them along so that the family may have a means to reflect and remember in navigating their loss in the journey ahead. Her spirit will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her, and her memory will be cherished forever.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory are welcomed by Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company, 1410 Market St., Pocomoke City, MD 21851, Maryland Nurse Honor Guard at https://www.mdnursehonorguard.org/donate, or Pocomoke Community Garden, P.O. Box 634, Pocomoke City, MD 21851.
A memorial service was held Saturday, May 24, at Holloway Funeral Home in Pocomoke City.
Tributes may be left on the Holloway Funeral Home website at https://tinyurl.com/5n73p5nu
