Debbie (nee Hendel) Marshalek died in her home on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 after a period of illness. Family and friends surrounded her in her final days, sharing their love, memories, laughs, hugs, and kisses up until the very end. Debbie was born in Maplewood, Missouri in 1958, and she attended Maplewood Richmond Heights schools, graduating in 1977. She spent many happy years as a telephone operator for what was then Southwestern Bell. A photograph of Debbie working as an operator appears in the Smithsonian Institution. She lived most of her life in her home in Lemay, Missouri, a house that she lovingly restored, and which was the object of her greatest pride. More recently, she was famous at the Bean House in South St. Louis County for her kindness and humor. Debbie's life was full of wonderful friends and family, but was not without struggle. She lived with challenging mental heath issues all of her life; still, her friends will tell you that she was among the strongest women they have ever known. She had a brilliant and creative mind, and her quick wit was one of her most endearing qualities. Her enduring wish was to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness and for more people to better understand this difficult disease. In support of that wish, memorial donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) are encouraged in lieu of flowers. http://www2.nami.org/myNAMICause/Memorials/debbieM She is survived by her mother, Mary Ann (Kupferer) Hanson, her step-father, Ben Hanson, and siblings, Cathy (Hendel) Leykam, Julie (Hendel) Geppert, Mary Hendel, Laura Hendel, John Hendel, Mike Hendel, Jim Hendel, Dan Hendel, Janet Hendel Shores, and Amy (Hendel) Ramsey. Debbie was a humorous and loving aunt to her many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was also a kind and unforgettable sister-in-law to the spouses of her ten siblings. Her strength and courage throughout her life, especially in her final months, were an inspiration to many. She will live in our hearts forever.