Debra O'Neill Rein

On Wednesday, January 17^th, the world lost a loving friend, daughter, sister, mother, and nana. Debbie O’Neill Rein, 62, passed away after a long and admirable battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Time and time again, MS tried to rob Debbie of everything it could, but the debilitating disease never defined her. Instead, she is remembered as a fighter, whose strength was unmatched and undeniable.  

In her youth, Debbie was a tomboy and an incredible athlete. She loved playing sports with her brother and friends. She grew to have a successful career as an administrative assistant at Amica Mutual Insurance. She was a role model to many. You could always count on her to make you laugh, keep secrets and give brutally honest advice. She was a lover of Philadelphia sports (even when they stunk), Bob Seger, Olivia Newton-John, white Russian cocktails, animals and so much more. 

Although she had a lot of interests, Debbie found the most joy in her family and friends. Whether it was a phone call from her son, a visit with her grandchildren or lunch with her best friends, Debbie loved being surrounded by those who cared most about her. She is survived by her parents Claire and Nelson O’Neill, siblings Cindy (Dale) and Jeff (Jodi), son Jason (Kelly) and grandchildren Emily and Edward. Her family was everything to her and they will continue to live by the example she set.

Please join the family in celebrating the life of Debbie on Wednesday, January 24^th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield (1710 Bethlehem Pike). Visitation begins at 10:00 am and a service follows at 11:00. Any proceeds/contributions will be generously donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause that Debbie supported for decades.