Deborah A, Rice

Youngstown – Deborah A. “Debbie” Rice, 72, of Youngstown passed away on Friday morning, September 13, 2024 at her home.

Debbie was born on March 26, 1952 in Tripoli, Libya to Lt. Col. Francis Lockwood and Nancy (Griffith) Hardcastle. Growing up in a military family, Debbie traveled the world from young age.

Debbie’s family eventually settled in Boardman, where she was a 1971 graduate of Boardman High School. Following high school, Debbie married Robert J. Rice and was a stay at home mother while raising her three girls. As her children got older, she worked for Gorant’s Candy, AllSports Travel and eventually retired as an insurance agent from Cailor Fleming Insurance.

Outside of work, Debbie enjoyed going on walks with friends, spinning, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers. An avid football fan, she was proud to have attended more than one Super Bowl to cheer on the 49ers while working at AllSports. Most of all, she enjoyed being around her family. Debbie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Debbie will always be remembered by her daughters, Rachel Rice of Boardman and Jennifer (Scott) Merlino of New Lyme, OH; grandchildren, Vanessa VanGieson, Eddie Thompson, Elizabeth Butto, Raymond Boggs, Dominic Butto and Sibila Merlino; two, great grandchildren, James Neubauer and Sierra VanGieson; brother, Gary (Steva) Hardcastle of New York; sister, Wendy (Harvey) Hays of Canfield and best friend, Cindy “Bunny” Mckenzie of Wetumpka, Alabama.

Besides her parents, Debbie was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Robert Rice; daughter, Sarah Rice and grandson, Christopher Merlino.

Debbie’s family will honor her with a private burial at Canfield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Debbie’s family encourages all who knew her to “pour one out for Nana” and a enjoy a good margarita with friends.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deborah A, Rice, please visit our floral store.