Deborah J. Gilbert, 43, of New Bedford died Saturday January 6, 2007 unexpectedly at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of Elizabeth (Rose) Gilbert and the late Daniel Gilbert, Sr., she lived in New Bedford all of her life.
Debbie was employed at the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center as a family support specialist, who supported families all over the nation. She was very involved in many area of HIV/AIDS. She was instrumental in establishing support groups for families of affected and infected children and women. Active in lobbying, fundraising, planning, transportation ,and education issues, she was involved with the Walk on AIDS Committee, AIDS Awareness Day, and World AIDS Day. She served on the Board of Directors of Healing Light Productions.
Survivors include her mother; two sons, Lavar A. Gilbert and Carl R. Mendes, Jr., both of New Bedford; a stepson, Derek Baptiste of New Bedford; a brother, Daniel Gilbert Jr. of New Bedford; a sister, Terry Gilbert of New Bedford; two stepgrandchildren, Demetrios and Derek Baptiste Jr.; several godchildren; and nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 9 AM in Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4-9 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.