Deborah Carney
Maryville | Save
Deborah Caroline Carney (née Crane), 71, of Maryvillle, Illinois, passed away on October 5, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.
Born June 21, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, Deborah’s family relocated to Granite City, Illinois in 1971. Debbie graduated from Granite City High School in 1972 and on May 30, 1975, married the love of her life, Richard T. Carney Jr., at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Granite City.
Debbie was a dedicated employee of Wal-Mart working as a pharmacy technician for 30 years, retiring in March 2020. With a wealth of knowledge and always a smile for her customers, she was beloved by her co-workers, many who remained lifelong friends.
Above all, Debbie wholeheartedly embraced her role as a mother and grandmother. Her children were her pride and joy, and she was a fixture at plays, wrestling matches, soccer and baseball games and recitals.
The home she made for her family was full of love, comfort and plenty of everyone’s favorite foods. Debbie threw parties at an expert level with an unmatched eye for details. No matter the occasion, you could count on her to think of every way possible to add a personal touch to make the event special and talked about.
In her retirement years, Debbie said that her greatest joys were eating chocolate, drinking coffee and playing cards with her friends. Earlier this year Debbie and Rick celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a trip to Europe where among many other adventures they visited St. Paul’s Cathedral in Rome, took a gondola ride in Venice and danced a little disco on a Mediterranean cruise.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Richard T. Carney, Jr.; daughter Jaime (Ian) Leith of Berwyn, Illinois, sons Richard (Lindsay) Carney III of Glen Carbon, Illinois, and Scott (Sarah) Carney of Troy, Illinois, her five grandchildren Ella, Dylan, Jack, Claire and Grace Carney, siblings Vivian Wilson, Barbara Horner, John Crane, the extended Carney and Crane families including many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and her many friendships formed over the years.
She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Ethel “Jane” (née Ott) Crane; nephew Adam Horner; in-laws Richard Carney, Sr., Alyne (née Berghofer) Carney; and brother-in-law Timothy P. Carney.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Irwin Chapel, 3960 Maryville Road, Granite City, Illinois.
A Funeral Mass will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2606 Washington Avenue, Granite City, Illinois, with Father Steve Thompson as celebrant.
Burial will be at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon, Illinois.
In honor of Debbie and in lieu of flowers and donations, we ask that you seize the moment. Buy the piano, plan the party, gather the people, make the good coffee, get the Invisalign and take the trip of a lifetime. Time waits for no one.
Condolences and memories may be shared at www.irwinchapel.com.
Irwin Chapel Funeral Home
