OBITUARY FROM EDMONDS & EVANS FUNERAL HOME (PORTAGE, IN) WEBSITE:
Debra "Debbie" Kay (Collins) Gagna, age 75, of Portage, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Saturday, August 22, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. She was born on July 24, 1951, in Gary, Indiana, to Edward and Myrtle (Ihme) Collins who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were her three brothers, Terry (Buzz) Collins, Rickie Ray Collins, and Larry Collins.
Debbie is survived by her loving husband and soulmate of 54 years, Richard Leigh Gagna of Portage; two daughters, Nicole Leigh Gagna, Cherie Lynn (Brian) Redmon; grandson, Cody Christopher Gabriel; three granddaughters, Caitlynn Elysabeth (Sammy) Gonzalez, Holly Alexis (Kevin) Schwalm, Ashlynn Rae Dennis; one great-grandson, Luca Christopher Gonzalez; over 110 nieces and nephews; many extended family members and friends near and far.
Debbie had a very giving and generous spirit. If she saw someone in need, she did her best to do what she could to fulfill it. She had a huge heart. At Christmastime, if she knew of anybody that couldn't afford gifts -- family or strangers -- she made sure they had gifts under the tree. She often donated to the Angel Tree. She also donated to the Shop With a Cop.
Debbie gave the best advice, even if nobody wanted to listen. (It was usually very sound advice, and she was always right.) She had an awesome sense of humor with absolutely no limits. She had no problem speaking her mind. She wasn't afraid to try new things. She had a special way of calming down anyone who was upset and then she could magically make them laugh. She was a great cook, and she loved to garden and plant lots of flowers.
Debbie was a wonderful, loving, caring, and nurturing mother to her two girls and their many friends, who also called her "mom." She took great pride in having helped raise all four of her grandchildren. She was absolutely, positively the best "granny" to her four grandchildren and great-grandson. Many of her grandchildren's friends lovingly called her "granny" as well, and they loved to stop by to come and talk and visit with her.
Debbie was also a very loving and caring wife to her husband, Rich. She took very good care of him while he, himself, fought cancer years ago and made sure he got to his appointments and treatments until he was in remission. She never left his side and didn't give up. She loved to joke around with him and laugh a lot. She also liked to go to dinner with him or just take a random drive to nowhere in particular. She was happy just to be with him and around him.
Debbie had many friends near and far that she kept in contact with. She was there to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. She loved to talk on the phone and catch up with them or visit with them in person. She didn't know many strangers, because she quickly made friends with them. She was definitely one of a kind, and she will be deeply missed.
Funeral Service will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday, August 28, 2026 at Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home Portage Chapel, 6941 Central Ave., Portage, IN 46368. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026 from 4:00 pm until the time of service at 6:00 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of Debbie's memory to Dunes Hospice.
This information and the picture below were obtained from: https://www.ee-fh.com/obituaries/Debbie-Kay-Gagna?obId=49375956. The picture above was obtained from the 1969 HHS Memories yearbook, made available by the Lake County Public Library, at: https://archive.org/details/HOHS1969Images/.
