WARREN — Deborah Jo-Ann Winchenbach, 77, of Warren, passed away on April 13, 2026, at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick. Born on August 10, 1948, in Rockland to Lawrence Chapman and Eleanor Tracy Chapman, Deborah grew up in Thomaston and graduated from Georges Valley High School before going on to earn her RN diploma from Central Maine General School of Nursing.

Deborah dedicated her life to caring for others. As a registered nurse at the VA Togus Hospital in Augusta for thirty-one years, she supported countless veterans and their families with skill and compassion. Even while working full-time and raising a family, her passion for healing and lifelong learning never wavered. She ran a holistic bookstore, earned her Master's in Humanities, traveled with Cultural Tours for Peace to the Soviet Union and Bosnia, and organized a Healing Quilt project honoring women veterans. She also co-authored a book with her mentor and dear friend, Dr. Bernard Grad, which served as a testament to a life lived in full pursuit of knowledge and purpose.

Creative by nature, Deborah had a gift for bringing warmth and beauty into the lives of those around her. She sewed, painted, quilted with friends, and delighted in sharing stories with her daughters and grandchildren. She loved spending time by the ocean and boating with her husband. A lifelong reader and writer, she was always eager to share what she was currently exploring by passing along knowledge the way others might pass along a gift.

Her family and friends were at the center of Deborah's world. She is survived by her husband, Donald Winchenbach; her daughters, Michelle DeBlois and Kathryn Lariviere; her son-in-law, Joseph Lariviere; her beloved grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Hannah DeBlois, and Connor Lariviere; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Eleanor Chapman; her sisters, Paula Maxcy and Belinda Chapman; and her nephew Darren Maxcy.

Deborah will be remembered for her kindness, her steady strength, and the deep love she held for her family and all those fortunate enough to know her. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the work she leaves behind, and the family she cherished.

A graveside service will be held June 25, at 10 a.m., at Counce Cemetery in Warren, Maine. A gathering will follow at a time and location to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Deborah's memory may be made to the Sisters in Arms Center in Augusta, Maine, located at the Betsy Ann Rose House of Hope, in support of women veterans. Please visit their website at https://www.barhh.org/ways-to-help/ .

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

To share a story or memory with Deborah’s family, please visit their Book of Memories at https://www.bchfh.com/memorials/deborah-winchenbach/5704333/.