Obituary of Deborah V. Rutledge

Deborah Rutledge, 77, of Colchester, Connecticut passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, after a heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in Boston on December 6, 1948, Deborah was the daughter of Catherine (Chaprales) McHugh and Frederick Hollis. She spent her early childhood in Somerville, Massachusetts, before her family moved to Waltham, where she attended school and graduated from Waltham High School, class of 1966.

Deborah began her professional career with Head Start, advocating for children from birth through age 5, and supporting programs for healthy homes and early learning development. She moved to Connecticut in 1981. There, she continued her education to earn a degree in social work. Taking her passion for advocacy in a new direction, Debbie spent the next 30 years working for Manchester Area Conference of Churches (MACC) Charities, first as a case manager for shelter clients, then later as the Director of Advocacy & Support Services. In these roles she advocated for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty. She fiercely believed that lives begin to change when a challenge is met or an obstacle is overcome, and she worked tirelessly to positively impact those she served. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she stabilized, housed, and uplifted.

Outside of work, Deborah was blessed to have had many wonderful friends, with whom she loved to travel, laugh, and embark on hair-raising adventures. Some notable examples include running from mountain lions in the white mountains, sitting dangerously close to the ocean during raging hurricane weather, and a nail-biting road trip during an icy April Fools snowstorm to retrieve a stranded loved one. Whatever she was doing, she was sharing her beautiful smile and infectious laughter.

Debbie’s pride and joy, however, was being a mother to her three daughters, and then watching their families grow. When her girls were young, she encouraged and supported each one’s interest in art, music, basketball, creative writing, and baking. All three daughters inherited their mother’s love for children and family, and her compassion in serving others which resulted in their career paths of education, nursing, and social work. 

Deborah is survived by her three daughters and their spouses, Wendianne (Parker) Grant, of Bolton, CT, Eugenia (Gregory) Soucie, of East Haddam, CT, and Tiffany Tomeo-Williams (Brian), of South Windsor, CT. 

Over the years, Deb’s family expanded to include many special people beyond her three girls, including children of her heart: Kim Butcher, Laurie, Kevin, Patricia, and John Lundberg; sons in law: Gregory, Parker, Michael, and Brian; her grandchildren: Gabriel (Kistie), Jason (Alexandra), Benjamin, Jackson, Catherine, Elinor, Emma, Maxwell, Ella, Michael, Katelyn, Alexander, and Ryan. Debbie notoriously fell deeply in love with each of these new grandchildren as if they were the first. Deborah also leaves four great grandbabies, with a fifth to arrive this winter, to enjoy the many cuddles, stories, and songs, to be provided frequently and with great love in the memory of their Nana Deb. 

In addition to her daughters and their families, Deborah is survived by her brothers, George (Jackie) Rutledge and Donald (Cathy) McHugh; her sisters, Barbara (Edward) Dettore and Claire (Thomas) Rathbun; many nieces and nephews; her aunts, Adrianna (Jack) Donahue and Katherine (James) Chaprales; numerous cousins; and her dear friend, Denise (Doug Scott) Cabana.

Along with her parents, she was predeceased by her dear stepmother Annice Hollis; brothers, Frederick J. Hollis, John E. Hollis, Gerald C. Hollis, Thomas J. Rutledge; nephew John E. Hollis Jr.; and dear friends Judy A. Murphy and Doreen G. Lundberg.

The family would like to thank the caregivers and residents of Apple Rehab in Colchester for making her time there as comfortable as possible. The family is especially appreciative of Nurse Jahyell and Nurse Zarenna for their compassionate care of, attention to, and connection with Deborah.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ctfoodshare.org or charity with a similar mission. Given how passionate Debbie was for helping people, we also encourage you to perform an act of service for someone to continue her spirit of advocacy.  

Family and friends are invited to gather on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury, CT 06033. A celebration of Deborah’s life will be held at a later date. For online condolences, please visit www.murlyanfh.com.