Obituary: Deborah Crockatt Mann

UPDATE: A celebration of Life will be held at the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street in Hancock on Saturday, Oct 22, 2022 from 11:00am-2:00pm.

As received from the O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home:

Deborah Ann Mann – Passed away on 08/30/22

Searching our souls to navigate this tragic loss of our loved one, Deborah Mann and the grief that follows. Deborah (Debbie) Ann Crockatt, 64, was born in Sault Ste Marie, ON, Canada on April 1, 1958 to Wally & Janet Crockatt. Debbie was the eldest of three daughters. She spent most of her childhood in Ontario & spent summers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan working at her grandparents supper club, The Rendezvous. She graduated from Lakewood HS in Kenora, Ontario where she met the love of her life Robert Aurthur Mann (Bob). After graduation she attended Red River Community College in Winnipeg, MB, where she obtained her Nuclear Medicine degree. In October 1980, she married Bob, shortly thereafter they moved to Edmonton, AB. where she was employed at the Royal Alexander hospital in the Nuclear Medicine department.

In 1984, Debbie & Bob welcomed their first daughter, April. They moved to the Fox Valley area, Wisconsin in 1989 to be closer to family. Their son Christopher was born in 1991, who passed away unexpectedly at the age of four months and nine days. With guarded optimism, they welcomed their youngest daughter, Ashleigh in 1992.

Debbie furthered her career by earning an advanced practice degree as a Physician Assistant and started a new role at Radiology Associates of the Fox Valley. In the following years, Debbie lost both of her parents to aggressive cancer. Devastated by the loss, she and Bob decided to enjoy a more peaceful, serene existence on the shores of Lake Superior. At that time, Debbie’s focus shifted to other passions outside of the medical field. This led her to a career in community service in the Hancock area. During that time she received an Outstanding Service Award from the City of Hancock for work as a liaison between the city, downtown businesses, Michigan Department Of Transportation and contractors during the reconstruction of Quincy street. Additionally she received the Outstanding Service Award from the Hancock Rotary Club for leading the efforts to renovate Veteran’s Memorial Park. Debbie devoted many years of her life to volunteering and inspired others to focus on service over self.

Debbie worked as the Hancock Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Coordinator, where she established the Farmer’s Market. Additionally as part of the Recreation Commission she was proud of her influence of opening the City of Hancock Dog Park and Pickle Ball courts. Debbie was a proud member of the Hancock Planning Commission, Hancock Beautification Group, Hancock Business Professional Association, Bridgefest Committee, Make a Difference Day, 31 Backpacks, Key Ingredients, Canal Run, the annual Christmas walk, Movies On Quincy Green, and Italian Fest. She recently celebrated Hancock’s acquisition of the History Preservation grant, which will be used to restore the city’s downtown. We find peace in knowing her impact on the city will continue for many years to come. When once asked why she is so involved, Debbie responded “The accolades are not why I do what I do. They are a culmination of the efforts of many volunteers. We all want to make the world a better place, one small project at a time.”

Of all her life’s accomplishments, being Grandma “Bucca” was her absolute favorite. She joked that being grandma was so fun, she wished she had done it first. Debbie had an adventurous love of travel, an eye for decorating, and a distinctive palette. She took pride in her thirst for learning. She had an appreciation for diversity and an ability to strike up a conversation with anyone. In a recent message, Debbie shared with her daughters the following, “My Truly special talent is I can strike up a conversation with a post! I have a generosity of spirit and try to connect with everyone I can. It is annoying to some but if I can impart some happiness or make an impact on even one person, that is a superpower.”

Debbie is preceded in death by her grandfather Joseph Masini, mother-in-law Rita Mann, son Christopher James, mother Janet (Masini) Crockatt, father Wallace Crockatt, grandmother Louise Masini, father-in-law Robert Mann Sr.

Family members left to pick up the pieces include her husband, Robert Mann, her favorite oldest daughter, April Young, (Jason), her favorite youngest daughter, Ashleigh Mann (Adam), her grandchildren Grant, Ellie, Lucy and Jack, her sisters, Lisa Finnegan (Carlos) and Marti Crockatt (David), extended family and dear friends.

A special thank you to her family, cherished colleagues and many dear friends, for helping us proceed forward as we navigate this unexpected grief. We would like to acknowledge the fire department, first responders, police department, and healthcare providers for their tireless efforts.

Debbie is a profound reminder that there is only grief where there was once love.

A celebration of Life will be held at the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy St. Hancock MI on Saturday, Oct 22, 2022 from 11:00am-2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at Superior National Bank of Hancock in Deborah Ann Mann’s name. Donations will be distributed back to the Hancock community as Debbie would have wished.

An online guest book is available at www.oneilldenisfh.com. The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with the arrangements.