Funeral For Debbie Cruz

Welcome

Good Evening

On behalf of the family, I want to Thank you for joining us tonight as we remember the life of Debbie Cruz.

Debbie was a special person to many and she will be dearly missed.

Nights like this are some of the hardest parts of our journey in this life.

Its not easy to say goodbye to someone we love dearly.

Its in times like this that we need each other even more.

We need our family, our friends, and those we love.

and we need to lean on them.

This is a time to put aside differences and come together.

To mourn, to grieve, and to say goodbye.

And I encourage you to do that tonight.

Tonight

This evening, there will be a couple of different people who are come to come and share about Mrs Debbies life.

We will have a couple of special songs that were meaningful to her.

And Im going to share some scriptures and a poem that i hope will help us as we navigate this journey.

But as we begin, will you join me in a word of prayer?

Prayer

Heavenly Father. I thank you for these next few moments we have to gather here tonight and say goodbye to Mrs Debbie. I thank you for your presence in this room that makes this possible. Your word reminds us that you’re with us in times such as this. That you’re near to the broken hearted. That you comfort those who grieve and mourn. I ask that you would help us as we navigate this night. Help us to draw strength and comfort from you. Speak peace to our broken hearts. I also thank you Father for every person that has been in this room tonight. I thank you that you remind us that were not alone. You’ve surrounded us with friends and family to help us walk in this difficult season. Help us to lean on each other and to hold each other up. I ask holy spirit that you would calm the seas in our hearts tonight. Give us the strength to share about the beautiful person that Debbie was. Give us the strength to release her back to you and to say goodbye this evening. Help us as we navigate this time together tonight. In Christ name we pray. Amen

Obituary

Deborah A. Cruz, age 65, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2025. She was born on November 5, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio, to her loving parents, the late George and Mildred (nee Ledford) Hobbs. She was the beloved mother of Jessica M. (nee Hobbs) McCalpine (Tony, Sr.) and her son-in-love, Stevie. Cherished grandmother of Luis A. Santiago, Jr. (Natalie) and Tony G. McCalpine, Jr., and proud great-grandmother of Luis A. Santiago, III.

Deborah was the dear sister of Billy (deceased), Donald (deceased), Richard “Deda” (deceased), Dena (deceased), Jeannie (deceased), Tammy, Ron, John (deceased), and Marie. She was a treasured aunt and great-aunt to a host of nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

Deborah enjoyed talking with her family and spending time with Jess and her grandsons. She will be remembered for her warmth, her humor, and the love she shared so freely with those around her.

Special Song 1

Debbie was an active member of our church here at freedom.

Although in her later years she was home bound much of the time, Debbie loved church.

She used to listen to the live stream.

In fact, many days she was the majority of the comments on the live stream.

She love to talk back to the pastor and sing along in her comments.

Vanessa

One of the thing Debbie especially loved about church was the music.

And One of the people she enjoyed hearing Sing was Mrs Vanessa Bryant

She’s going to come at this time and sing one of Mrs Debbies favorite worship songs.

Scriptures and Remarks

Thank you Vanessa

I want to share a verse of scripture with you tonight and a couple of thoughts

and I promise ill be brief.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Debbie

I didn’t know Debbie as well as many of you in this place tonight.

In the 8 years that I’ve had the privilege to pastor this church we ran into each other a number of times.

in the early years she would come to church every so often,

and then when covid happened, she became more homebound and we would see each other at special events like a birthday

i think the last time i saw her in this building was Tony’s Graduation party.

Knew

Even though I didn’t know her super well,

There were a few things I did know about her.

Food

First, She loved good cooking.

and she loved to eat.

Especially certain foods.

It seemed like She always wanted Jessica to cook for her..

If i remember correctly, on her birthday the thing she wanted most was a home cooked meal..

in fact, just a few weeks ago she was still at home..

and jess has made sure she had food for a few days..

and I remember jess telling me.. she still called.. and said hey.. will you make me some chicken?

She loved good.

When I started making BBQ regularly she got addicted to my mac and cheese..

And she asked for it frequently..

she didn’t get it as much as she asked for it though..

kids

Second, She loved her family

Jess and the kids..

Especially the kids..

Luis, Tony, the baby..

She loved you guys..

you ment the world to her.

And I know in her final days she wanted to see you more than anything..

and was grateful she did..

Imperfect.

Another thing I knew about Debbie was that she wasn’t a perfect person..

or a perfect christian..

And i don’t think she claimed to be..

She had a past..

she had made mistakes in that past..

But there came a time in her life where God dramatically changed her life..

and she began to serve him..

when I was thinking about her..

2 corinthians 5:17 just kept coming to mind..

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

You know at some point Debbie found Jesus..

And Jesus began to change her..

It didn’t make her perfect..

Until her very last moments God was working on her..

But that encounter with christ changed the trajectory of her life..

And made a her a different, a new person

Hope

Jesus became her hope.

Over the last few months this new creation in Debbie became very apparent..

because through everything she went through, Christ was her hope, her peace, and her foundation…

If she was scared.. she would call jess for prayer..

If she was sick.. She would call jess for prayer..

If she was in the hospital.. She would call jess for prayer..

and it wasnt Just jess..

She would ask the church through the live stream..

and jess would ask me on her behalf..

Phyillis would go and pray with her at times..

JESUS BECAME THE HOPE OF HER LIFE..

THE HOPE OF HER TOMORROW..

AND THE HOPE OF HER ETERNITY..

Hospital..

in the last couple of weeks..

as she got worse..

I know her and jess were praying every day together..

They were listening to worship music together..

they would read the bible together… .

Her focus became christ..

and in doing so..

Peace came over her in the end..

Not her..

You might be saying..

Pastor..

I knew debbie..

and thats not the debbie I knew back in the day..

Thats not the debbie I remember getting crazy with..

and i would say..

Your probably right!

BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT THE OLD DEBBIE..

SHE WAS A NEW CREATION..

THE OLD HAD GONE AND THE NEW HAD COME..

Hope of Eternity..

You see even in the last days..

when she knew she was dying..

She wasn't looking backward to the old days..

She was looking forward..

Because with this new life came a new hope..

Not a hope of this world..

But an eternal hope..

and what is that?

Its the hope of:

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Its the hope of:

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—

and

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

and

2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

the hope that comes with the new creation in christ..

is the hope that we have a beautiful tomorrow awaiting us in eternity

an eternal home with christ..

that has been prepared for us by christ..

that when we close our eyes on this side of glory..

we will hope them in his presence..

THIS IS THE HOPE DEBBIE HAD..

THE ONE THAT GAVE HER PEACE IN THE END..

KNOWING SHE KNEW THE SAVIOR AND WOULD BE IN HIS ARMS..

You

I want remind you tonight..

That this hope was not just for debbie..

But its for all..

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:13 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Debbie was a whosoever..

she was an everyone..

but so are you..

It doesnt matter who you are..

It doesnt matter what you’ve done…

It doesnt matter your reputation of rap sheet..

YOU CAN BE A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST AS WELL..

You can have the same hope that she did..

And in doing so we are promised that if we also know christ..

we will see her again..

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Paul tells us..

all we will be reunited with all who have gone before us if we know christ as well..

Debbie was a new creation..

She’s living in her eternal hope right now..

And you can too..

Romans 10:9–11 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

I’m not going to ask you to pray that prayer right now..

But you can..

at any moment..

until your life is over you can..

but who knows when life will be over..

and the bible says

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

I encourage you..

make sure you have the same hope as debbie. .

because its the only real hope in the world..

The hope of Jesus..

The hope of the world..

Special Music and Photos

Mrs jess has put together some phots and a song she would like us to share about her mom.

After that shes gonna come and share a few words..

Followed by Mark Eliason..

So at this time if you would turn your attention to the screens.

Memories

Jessica

Jess to Share

Mark Eliason

Mark to share

Poem

As we close I would like to read you a poem.

I read it at every funeral I do because I believe its speaks volumes about the grieving process.

Its author is unknown.

But its words ring very true during times such as this and the times that will follow this day.

As for grief, you’ll find it comes in waves. When the ship is first wrecked, you’re drowning, with wreckage all around you. Everything floating around you reminds you of the beauty and the magnificence of the ship that was, and is no more. And all you can do is float. You find some piece of the wreckage and you hang on for a while. Maybe it’s some physical thing. Maybe it’s a happy memory or a photograph. Maybe it’s a person who is also floating. For a while, all you can do is float. Stay alive.

In the beginning, the waves are 100 feet tall and crash over you without mercy. They come 10 seconds apart and don’t even give you time to catch your breath. All you can do is hang on and float. After a while, maybe weeks, maybe months, you’ll find the waves are still 100 feet tall, but they come further apart. When they come, they still crash all over you and wipe you out. But in between, you can breathe, you can function. You never know what’s going to trigger the grief. It might be a song, a picture, a street intersection, the smell of a cup of coffee. It can be just about anything…and the wave comes crashing. But in between waves, there is life.

Somewhere down the line, and it’s different for everybody, you find that the waves are only 80 feet tall. Or 50 feet tall. And while they still come, they come further apart. You can see them coming. An anniversary, a birthday, or Christmas, or landing at O’Hare. You can see it coming, for the most part, and prepare yourself. And when it washes over you, you know that somehow you will, again, come out the other side. Soaking wet, sputtering, still hanging on to some tiny piece of the wreckage, but you’ll come out.Take it from an old guy. The waves never stop coming, and somehow you don’t really want them to. But you learn that you’ll survive them. And other waves will come. And you’ll survive them too.

Closing Remarks

In my years as a pastor..

I’ve found the words of this poem to ring very true.

Grief is difficult..

And it is a never ending process.

It comes, and it receeds, but it never goes away.

In the coming days and weeks there will certainly be many times where grief will come in waves..

undoubtable for some it already has.

But I want to remind you, that they wont endure forever..

When they come, let yourself mourn and grieve..

let your emotions out..

Have a hard day…

Eat a whole tub of ice cream..

And know that others days will come when its more bearable..

Eventually..

I promise at some point..

memories, like the poem says will become sweet..

And instead of falling apart..

your break a small smile, and maybe even a tear, in remembrance of Debbie..

Closing Prayer

Before we dismiss I would like to pray one more time.

Then Vanessa is going to come and sing a final son..

and following that the funeral director will be coming to give final instructions.

Will you join me in a final word of prayer?

Dismissal

Father, thank you again for the time we have had together tonight to remember Mrs Debbie. Thank you for being with us as we have walked through this evening. I ask that you would help us as we leave this place. Help us tomorrow as we go to the graveside. Be near us as we walk into this new normal that is very absent of a person we loved dearly. Give us the strength to go on with our lives and allow Mrs Debbies life to live on in us as we continue. Remind us of the hope we have, a hope Debbie had, in you. And Remind us of the promise we have that we will one day again be reunited with her if we too know you as a new creation. Go with us as we leave this place. Let your spirit be near to us. In Christ name we pray. Amen.

Vanessa to Sing Worthy of It all

Sloan to come.