This tribute video was done by a friend of Jamie’s who wanted it shared with others.

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Team Tepper reaches out for support
June 19, 2008
By MARCIA SAGENDORPH

The Tepper family needs a miracle. Or more precisely, two miracles.

Debbi Tepper, 50, of Round Lake Beach, died suddenly from a mysterious illness May 29. She was known for being the type of person who always took care of others in her family, in her Lakewood Hills neighborhood and throughout Grayslake where her son attends school.

Debbi is survived by her husband George, her daughter Jamie Cieplinski, 23, and her son Brandon Tepper, 12.

She died on the very day the family learned they were about to lose their home to foreclosure.

Meanwhile, George Tepper needs a second kidney transplant. He has polycystic kidney disease, and since Debbi’s death, has relied on family and neighbors to drive him to dialysis three times per week. The extensive medical bills the family has incurred caused them to get behind on their house payments.

They need cash donations now to save the house and, in a perfect world, get a new kidney for George.

“We are trying to save this house,” said Lori Koons, organizer of Team Tepper. About 52 people have already joined the team, and about 25 people attended a planning meeting June 12 at the Round Lake Police Station.

“So far, we’ve raised nearly $20,000 in about eight days,” Koons said, which is a long way from the amount needed to cover expenses.

If not, the house is due to go to auction July 28.

Donations of any size from anywhere are needed.

Growing up, Debbi (Tepper) Saey and her brother Robert and sisters Sheri and Lori lived in Skokie, and attended to Niles East High School. They still have friends throughout the North Shore. Now, family members live in Arizona and Florida.

“I think that it was so stressful for my sister to know that she might lose the home that she loved that it shorted out her system, and she died,” said Robert Saey. “George is still taking care of the kids. There are a lot of needs.”

Les Cieplinski of Lake Bluff, Debbi’s ex-husband, is among the people working to raise money.

“We’ve all been trying to pitch in and help, and we are all trying to raise as much money as possible,” said Cieplinski.

“People from all over are coming together to help George,” said Koons. “Everytime we hit a wall, then something else comes together. It is helping me get through the grief of losing Debbi.”

For regular updates on fund-raisers, to express condolences or to help the family, visit www.DebbiTepper.com. Donations can be made to any Fifth Third Bank under “Team Up for the Teppers.”

Friends,

We are on a journey together to save a home from Foreclosure. Debbi Tepper passed away on May 29^th leaving behind a husband, George, who is need of a kidney transplant; a son, Brandon Tepper who is twelve years old; and a daughter Jamie who is 23.

Debbi was admitted to Condell Hospital in Libertyville, Illinois on May 21, 2008 with a mysterious illness that aggressively ravaged her body to the point where she became paralyzed. She was on a feeding tube and ventilator. She also received a tracheotomy. This illness eventually attacked her body to the point where her brain was no longer functioning leaving her on life support, until eventually the family had to let her go.

Debbi is at peace now, but her family is not. The government was declaring a Sherriff’s sale on her home the very same day she passed away. An extension was able to be obtained until July 28^th, 2008. That is the day the house is up for auction.

George, her husband has Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). Because of his PKD, he is in immediate need of a second kidney transplant. He goes to dialysis three times a week and is awaiting a second kidney transplant. The extensive medical bills the family has incurred has forced them to get far behind on their house payments.

Jamie just graduated from college only to eventually see her mother who was the picture of perfect health die from a mysterious illness which violated her body in less than two weeks. Jamie and Brandon have gone through more than any child should ever have to in a lifetime.

Debbi was the hub of our entire neighborhood Lakewood Hills in Round Lake Beach Illinois. Brandon, her son, is undoubtedly the most popular child in the neighborhood. He does not deserve to lose the home he has grown up in.

We are on a mission to save their home and we need your help! Please give ASAP to “Team Up For The Teppers” at any Fifth Third Bank Location, click the donate button above to donate online, or mail a donation to the following Fifth Third Bank address:

Fifth Third Bank
Attn: Randy Angsten
750 Northwest Hwy
Cary, IL 60013

Thank you for your kind support. Everyone is telling me it looks hopeless but I am believing God for a miracle! Please give from your heart. We are on a massive fundraising campaign in our community and we are not giving up! Keep the Faith.

Friends of The Tepper Family.

The following is a tribute by Gary Tepper and his wife Yvette. Please visit their site to see some photos of Debbi and the family.

Our beloved sister-in-law Debbi passed into God’s loving arms last night. She was a beautiful angel among us, an incredibly loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend to so many. Her gentle spirit, kindness and amazing grace will live on in her children and her adoring husband forever, of that we are certain. We were all so very blessed and honored to have her in our lives. Her smile was so warm and her laughter was always contagious. The memories that we each have of Debbi will carry us on until we meet again…in Heaven. We love you Debbi so very much and will miss your touch and your smile, but we can still feel your love in each of our hearts. Thank you God for lending us your angel, if only for a short time.
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Below is a second story from Grayslake Review by Marcia Sagendorph.

In life, and in death, Debbi Tepper brought people together.

She was a known as the person who united others in her Round Lake Beach neighborhood. After the 50-year-old mother died suddenly May 29, there has been an outpouring of support from friends and even strangers. Several community fund-raisers are being planned to benefit the Tepper family.
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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.
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I asked a friend, Stacy Harp to help get the word out in the blogosphere. She just posted a request for help at Active Christian Media. Thanks Stacy.

In addition I posted a request at RedState.com.

Debra L. Tepper

As posted in the Chicago Tribune:

Debra L. Tepper, nee Saey, age 50, of Round Lake Beach, formerly of Skokie, beloved wife of George; devoted mother of Jamie Cieplinski, and Brandon Tepper; cherished daughter of Gale Sporer; fond sister of Sheri (Ray) Ott, Robert Saey, Lori Napier, Conni (Pete) Angsten, and Ricky (Laurel) Hertel. Resting at the Justen’s Round Lake Funeral Home, 222 N. Rosedale Ct., Round Lake. Visitation Monday, June 2 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Funeral service Monday evening June 2 at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations greatly appreciated to Team Up for the Teppers at Fifth Third Bank. Info, 847-546-3300.

For each of you who have been with me on this journey regarding prayers for Debbi Tepper…let me update you. It has been an incredible journey, a journey that is life changing, a journey that has forever changed the landscape of Debbi’s family and our neighborhood and local community forever.

We lost our dear Debbi to this earth on Thursday, May 29, 2008. This disease which took over her body, eventually began attacking her central nervous system, until the point where there wasn’t any more brain functioning. A few days before Debbi died I became very bold and prayed with her and asked God for a miracle. (Something I rarely do because I take miracles very seriously). In my earthly mind I fully expected that miracle to be Debbi awakening and coming back to us on this earth. It was not.
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Please leave your messages and reflections on the life of Debbi below. If you have pictures you would like to share, please email them to the webmaster.