Submit a PhotoDeborah passed to the Abhá Kingdom on December 20, 2025. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and truly cherished friend. Her soul touched everyone she met, from being a lifeguard as a teenager, to serving on the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Bosque Farms, NM, to helping people navigate the nuances of college admissions, to her support of various organizations that she believed in. Her kindness, generosity, and unwavering love will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew her.
Deborah was born on July 21, 1952, and raised in Apollo, Pennsylvania, where she grew up with a large extended family. She majored in accounting, was recognized by the honor society, and graduated from Grove City College before relocating to Bosque Farms, New Mexico. There she embarked on a new journey of raising her own family. While raising her family she advanced her career by earning an MBA. She retired from Anderson School of Management in 2019 after serving 31 years at the University of New Mexico. While she excelled professionally, her true joy was spending time with family and friends. She could spark a conversation with nearly anyone and her laughter could brighten even the darkest days.
She is preceded in death by her father Boyd G Duff (1986), her mother Katherine A (Askins) Duff (2010), her brother William T Duff (2021).
She is survived by:
Her brother James McDuff,
Her three beloved children,
- Megan Bower of Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Aaron Bower (Amy, Alexander, Xayden) of Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Matthew Bower (Stephanie, Andrew, Ethan, Isabella) of San Tan Valley, Arizona
Family and friends who will miss her dearly.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and grace. She is forever interred at San Tan Memorial Gardens in Queen Creek, AZ. A Celebration of Life memorial will be held on February 14, 2026 at 1pm, Canon de Carnue, 364 NM-333, Tijeras, NM 87059, where family and friends will gather to celebrate her life and honor her memory.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Foundation (ALZ.org)
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Remembering dear Deborahs unwavering kindness and gentle spirit and her uncompromising devotion to justice.
Debi shared her optimism and humor with me as we navigated through new bosses and expanded our careers. We raised our children with hopeful determination and mutual emotional support. She was a wonderful friend; a positive, uplifting spirit. Her children and grandchildren were her blessing and I know how dearly missed she will be.
Hello Debbie,
I will miss our lunches these past few years. Where we laughed and remembered. You probably never believed this, but if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have married Stephen. You explained things I never thought of with him. So Thankyou Debbie, you will be missed from us all. You are so loved and will be loved always.
My dearest friend Debbie, you are forever in my heart…. you were the only person I could talk to about my work because you understood it and gave sound advice. You also made me feel better about parental challenges with teens… you helped me understand I was not alone and I relied on that support for years. I dont think you ever knew the innate ability you had in quietly influencing others. We love you so and will never forget your beautiful spirit!