Deborah Peters Goessling of Wayland died October 11, 2010 at age 57.
She was the wife of Daniel Goessling of Wayland, and mother of Samuel, Joseph and Timothy Goessling. She was the daughter of Norah Peters of Brewster and the late Francis Peters of Brewster. Sister of Mary Peters of Totowa, NJ, Anne Conti of Hampton Falls, NH, James Peters of Goshen, NY, Michael Peters of Middletown, NY, and Robert Peters of Las Vegas, NV.
Debbie devoted her life to people with disabilities. A graduate of Boston College, she was a teacher of children with severe disabilities for twelve years. She then earned her doctorate at Boston University and became a professor of education at Providence College. She loved her work there and taught for fifteen years, up until one week before her death. Debbie loved swimming, sailing, music, the Boston Red Sox and spending time on Deer Isle, Maine.
Debbie was diagnosed with ALS in 2008. She would not give in to the disease. She learned to drive using hand controls and to teach from her red wheelchair. She used her disease to educate her friends and the whole community about inclusion and disability, speaking at meetings and appearing on television to raise money for ALS research.
Family and friends honored Deborah at a wake on Sunday Oct. 17th, 2010 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road, Wayland.
A funeral mass will be held on Monday October 18th at 12:00 noon at St. Zepherin’s Parish, Route 27, Wayland.
Interment will follow in the Goessling family lot in Lakeview Cemetery, Wayland.
For complete obituary, guest book, and directions visit www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com .
Flowers may be sent to the funeral home, or in lieu of flowers a donation may be made to the Providence College Angel Fund to provide financial aid to current students in need. Please make memorial gifts payable to Providence College c/o Angel P.O. Box 834 Providence, RI 02901-9912.