Deborah Louisell

Deborah Siskind Louisell died Wednesday, November 21, 2012 at Solvay Hospice House.


Born May 29, 1923, Worcester, MA, she was the only child of Albert and Edith (Asher) Siskind. She met Attorney and Lt. Commander Paul Louisell during WWII at the Boston Officers' Club. Married in 1943, they moved to Duluth in January 1946 deplaning with their infant in a blizzard that closed traffic.


A lover of opera, painting and sculpture, Debbie loved New York, Europe, and good fashion. She was a voracious reader and followed politics avidly. Elegant, forthright and funny, she made funny comments in the worst circumstances, even as she lay dying.


She was especially proud of her 2 term presidency and 10 year membership on the Duluth City Planning Commission. She was a board member of Duluth League of Women Voters, Lawyers Wives of 11th District Bar Association, Duluth Citizens Committee on Human Rights, and St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary; president of Cathedral Council of Catholic Women; Chairman, American Cancer Society Duluth Residential Division, 1966. She was on the Board of Directors, Northwood Children's Home; member of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Women's Symphony Association; and United Way Residential Division Captain. She chaired Mn. Women for Sen. Eugene McCarthy, Duluth, 1964; was a delegate to the 61st District DFL Convention, and on Citizens for Humphrey Steering Committee Senate Campaign 1970. She was a member of Holy Rosary parish for sixty five years.


She lived independently until 11 days before she died; she and her family are very grateful to Carol Eckstrom, helper and friend, for helping her.


She was preceded in death by husband Paul (June 7, 1986) and daughter Barbara (November 4, 1991). She is survived by sons Robert (Marie) of Minneapolis, James of Pueblo, Colorado, Richard of Philadelphia, and Paul of Burlingame, CA; daughters Mardith (Bernie Lubell) of San Francisco and Catherine (Rod Houston) of Santa Fe; and grand-daughters Rebecca Elizabeth Louisell of Los Angeles and Sarah Rachel Louisell of Rochester, MN.


Visitation will be Saturday, November 24 beginning at 1:30pm with Mass of Christian Burial at 2:30pm in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 E 4th St. Duluth. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Damiano Center, 206 W 4th St. Duluth,55806 or the cultural institution or charity of one's choice.
Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, (218) 727-3555.