Debbi Tepper

The story below is from the Grayslake Review by Marcia Sagendorph.

Debbi Tepper was known as “Mom” to her entire neighborhood.

Tepper, 50, died May 29 of a rare medical condition. She had been admitted to the hospital for bronchitis and it developed into pneumonia and paralysis, and she died a week later.

The tragedy has led neighbors and strangers to rally around the family to help her husband George Tepper, who is awaiting his second kidney transplant.

“She was always well and was always the strong one,” said Jeanne Tepper, Debbi’s mother-in-law.

George Tepper has polycystic kidney disease and has been on dialysis for the past two years. He goes for treatment three times a week.

“Debbi took care of him,” Jeanne Tepper said. “She was the anchor in the neighborhood. She was home during the day. Children came to her if they got a scratched knee.”

The couple has two children, Jamie Cieplinski, 22, and Brandon Tepper, 12.

“My mom was the rock of our family,” said Cieplinski. “She was the most beautiful person you have ever met. My mom was our neighborhood mom.”

The neighbors tied lilac ribbons around all the trees because purple was one of Debbi’s favorite colors.

“We feel so lucky to have the people in the community support us,” Cieplinski said. “The outpouring has been incredible.”

Nearly 55 neighbors have signed up to raise money to help the family keep their home and to get George to his dialysis treatments.

“It is phenomenal how people are responding to this,” said Lori Koons, a neighbor in the Lakewood Hills subdivision and one of Debbi’s best friends. “The whole neighborhood has gathered together to help them pay bills. People are cleaning the house and bringing them food.”

Koons said Debbi was an amazing person who would have helped anyone.

“If we can pull together and save their house, it will be worth it,” Koons said. “We don’t want to see them uprooted. Debbi loved this community and this neighborhood.”

A fund called “Team Up for the Teppers” has been established at Fifth Third Bank. Donations can be made at any location.

Posted on June 6th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: Reflections