Obituary of Deborah Carey

Deborah Powell Carey of Westvale died on April 19, 2025. Following a breast cancer diagnosis in 2018, Deb went on to live a full and joyful life marked by kindness, generosity, and warmth for everyone around her. She was as a loving mother and wife, and a wonderful role model for her students, her Girl Scout troop, and her six younger siblings.

Deb was born in Johnson City, New York and grew up in Vestal. She graduated from Le Moyne College with a degree in English. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Social Work from Syracuse University, and a Certificate of Advanced Educational Studies from SUNY Oswego.

Deb began her career as a drug and alcohol counselor for the Syracuse Diocesan Schools, followed by five years as a probation officer for juvenile drug offenders in the Washington, D.C. area. Upon returning to Syracuse in 1980, she served as the district social worker for the West Genesee Central School District. She completed her career as the principal of West Middle School in Auburn, New York. Among her many activities there, she found great joy in the annual eighth grade trip to Boston which she created to allow students to experience various American historical sites.

In retirement, Deb served as a board member for the Friends of the Onondaga Free Library, worked in the Spiritual Care Office at Upstate Community Hospital, and volunteered regularly at the St. Charles Church food pantry. She was a tireless advocate and fundraiser for the Lymphatic Education & Research Network. She was honored in 2019 by the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate for her work on behalf of the many people suffering with diseases of the lymph system.

Deb was an avid golfer and could be found regularly playing at Sunset Ridge in Marcellus. She helped organize the women’s annual “Mystery Trip” for many years in which the golfers would board a bus in the morning without knowing their destination golf course. She was a great fan of Syracuse football and basketball, and over time she joined the rest of her family as a Boston Red Sox fan. Deb loved to travel, and took numerous trips to Cape Cod, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Martha’s Vineyard, and Concord, Massachusetts. She held especially fond memories of Christmas holidays spent in Dublin and Paris with her family.

Deb is survived by her husband of 45 years, James Carey, daughter Maeve Carey (William Larson), son Ryan Carey (Kaitlyn Maloney), grandchildren, Liam, Rileigh, and Declan: siblings Anne Mitchell (Jim), Peter Powell (Terrie), Mary Loftus (John), Peg Dietl (Steve), Janet Powell (Jack Burns); sister-in-law Kathleen Carey, and brother-in-law Steven Ferrey. Deb was predeceased by her brother John Powell and her parents Dick and Sonya Powell.

Calling hours will be held at Edward Ryan & Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Avenue, Syracuse, New York 13219, on April 24, 2025 from 4-7 PM. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Charles Church on April 25, 2025 at 10 AM.

Contributions in Deborah’s memory may be made the The Lymphatic Education & Research Network, 154 West 14th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011.