Debra R. Fournier

In life, many of us emphasize external recognition and awards. For Debi Fournier, her focus was her family and friends. Each and every day, she was a consistent and unique light of stability and happiness, ever willing to support and help those around her achieve his or her goals. Her life was one of love, kindness, positivity/optimism, perseverance, toughness, and family-orientation.

Debi was born in San Diego, California on June 15th, 1954 to Herb Rothwill and Jeanne Hamlin. Several years later, she was blessed with the birth of her sister, Cheryl. It was the beginning of a life-long friendship until Cheryl’s passing several years ago. Debi deeply loved Cheryl and her eventual family, which would include her sons, Ryan and Steven, and her husband, Mike.

Herb, Jeanne, Debi and Cheryl moved somewhat frequently throughout Debi’s childhood. They ultimately lived in Nebraska, Utah, New Mexico, and California (San Diego and Long Beach), among other places. Some of Debi’s favorite childhood memories included riding her bicycle, hands stretched overhead, while singing Zippity Doo Dah; racing her pet turtle, Speedy Gonzales, against Cheryl’s slower turtle; going to see Mary Poppins in the movie theatre; and playing Blackjack against Grandpa Fred. Unfortunately, the family experienced some volatility. Jeanne and Herb divorced while Debi was a child. Fortunately, Jeanne would remarry and settle in Long Beach. Debi’s new stepfather, Richard “Dick” Craven (or “Duck”, as Debi would call him), would prove to be a source of stability and care. Debi would love and appreciate “Duck” for the remainder of her life.

With her roots in Long Beach, Debi graduated from Wilson High School, where she was the head cheerleader, and Cal State Long Beach. After graduation, she was accepted into and attended a Dietician graduate school program at Yale University.

At the age of 22, she went on a date and met Gary Fournier. For both, it was love at first sight and the beginning of a happy and healthy relationship that would span almost 48 years, including 45 years of marriage, until her death. The two were a great partnership: while he focused on building what would become a thriving business, she would take care of everything else around them. Her calming nature created a happy home. The two would eventually have a son, Matthew, and move to Rolling Hills, California. Despite having a successful practice as a Dietician, Debi would quit her work when Matthew was two years old to focus on being a full-time mom. She would drive him to-and-from school; to countless sporting events; and, overall, focused on creating a wonderful environment for her son. Gary and Matthew were two of Debi’s great life loves, along with her dogs, Champ, Sandy, Misty, Jazz, and Makana.

Some of Debi’s favorite family memories include vacations with Gary and Matthew to Alaska, Montana and Hawaii. She and Gary would eventually live part-time in Hawaii for 11 years, making it a special place for them. In 2016, Matthew would marry his wife, Jasmine. The wedding would be another great memory for Debi, along with the birth of Matthew and Jasmine’s son, Luke. In the final years of her life, spending time with Luke would bring her great joy.

When marrying Gary, Debi became a stepmother to his children from a previous marriage, Joe and Michele Fournier. Despite being 25 years old, Debi wasn’t scared of the responsibility. She loved and treated Joe and Michele as if they were her own children. Her love and kindness towards them would continue as they created their own families. Joe would marry Marlena and have a son, Nicholas. Debi expressed her love for Nicholas through hugs, gifts and cards, among many other ways. Nicholas loves his “tutu”.

Unfortunately, at the age of 55, Debi was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. She was told that she would only live a few months. Rather than complain and make life miserable for everyone else, she remained positive and happy. Through endless radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments, she remained hopeful: she didn’t want to die. She wanted to be there for Gary and her family. She wanted to see Matthew get married and have a child. Thanks to her joyous and optimistic spirit, she would live another 15 years. At the end, she wasn’t afraid of death: she believed in God, Jesus, and heaven. She would eventually be reunited with her family.

A “Celebration of Life” commemorating Debi will be held on March 29th at 11:00 AM PST at Rolling Hills Methodist Church. The address is:

26438 Crenshaw Blvd
Rolling Hills, CA 90274

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation in memory of Debi and Gary Fournier Cervical cancer research Foundation
UCLA Johnson cancer center foundation
9-623 factor bldg
Box 951780
Los Angeles 90095