Debra Palank

Debra Morris Palank, age 68, of Germantown, Maryland departed peacefully while surrounded by her husband and four children on March 5, 2022, after a relentless battle with amytrophic lateral sclerosis.

Debbie was born on February 5, 1954, to Frank and Phyllis Morris in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Archbishop John Carroll High School in 1972, Debbie went on to study elementary school education at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. Debbie’s passion for teaching led her to pursue a graduate degree in education. She accomplished her Master’s in Special Education at Hood College in 1985. Debbie started her teaching career at Saint Jane de Chantal Catholic School in 1978. She proceeded to touch the hearts of countless students at de Chantal for 20 years. Debbie enhanced the learning of students at the Saint Jude Regional Catholic School at the conclusion of her teaching career in 2020.

In 1975 she met David Thomas Palank, Senior, and they wed in 1978, going on to have four beauteous children, David, Stephen, Lauren, and Caitlin.

When Debbie had David, she decided to dedicate her life to being a fantastic and wonderful mother. Debbie excelled at managing the inevitable chaos that comes along with raising four strong-willed children. She especially transcended as a mother by always being supportive, while propelling self-assurance, even if she knew they were wrong. Whether that was her discernment of always saying the right thing at exactly the right time or her uncanny ability to know one’s true potential, and how to direct them towards it. Debbie made it her life’s mission to improve the life of others through the realization of one’s own self-worth.

Once Debbie’s children were all of school age, she returned to the classroom in 1999. However, Debbie’s selfless diligence as a mother and a wife never faltered.

Debra Palank was predeceased by her parents, Frank and Phyllis, and her brother, Dennis. She is survived by her sister Donna, her loving husband, David her children, David, Lauren, Stephen, and Caitlin, her grandchildren, David, Liliana, Maxwell, and Serafina, as well as her son-in-law Kevin, her daughter-in-law Michelle, nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

Debbie’s life will be celebrated at Mother Seton Catholic Church in Germantown, Maryland on Friday, March 11, 2022, at 12 noon. All are invited to join. The family will be receiving visitors at the church starting at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a scholarship fund at the San Miguel School in Debra Palank’s memory. Donations may be made online at< https://donorbox.org/debra-palank-scholarship-fund-2022 >

Checks can be sent to:
San Miguel School
Attention: Development Office
7705 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20012

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.