Debra A. Szabo

Debra A. “Debbie” Szabo (nee Torok), age 62, of Lorain, passed away Sunday, March 31, 2019 at Anchor Lodge Retirement Village in Lorain following a lengthy illness.

Born March 2, 1957 in Lorain, she lived in Lorain her entire life.  Debbie graduated from Southview High School in 1975 and attended Lorain County Community College.

She worked 25 years as a preschool and music teacher at St. Ladislaus Catholic School and St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic School both in Lorain and St. Peter United Church of Christ in Amherst, retiring in 2001.  She had also served as the organist and choir director for St. Ladislaus Catholic Church from 1969 until the church closed in 2010. 

Debbie was a member of the former St. Ladislaus Catholic Church and St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church where she served as cantor for many years.   She also was a member of the Byzantine Singers.  

Debbie loved her cats and enjoyed reading, bird watching and cooking.

Surviving is her husband of 40 years, Jeffrey; daughter, Julia (Benjamin) Kowalczyk of Lakewood; mother, Ethel Torok of Walnut Creek; and a brother, Eric (Lauren) Torok of Mosco, Idaho.

She was preceded in death by her father, Andrew Torok in 2018.

The family will receive friends on Thursday immediately following Panachida at 9:00 am until the time of Liturgy at 10:00 am at St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, 2711 W. 40th Street, Lorain. Rev. Fr. Jan Cizmar will officiate.  Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.  The Dovin Funeral and Cremation Specialists, Lorain is handling the arrangements.  To Send online condolences go to www.dovinfcs.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Debbie can be made to the St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, 2711 W. 40th St., Lorain, OH 44053 or to the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 92680, Washington, DC 20077.