Debra "Debbie" E. Broderick

Debra “Debbie” E. Broderick passed away on April 13, 2023. Born on April 5th, 1955, in Owosso, Michigan, Debbie was the third child to Elmer and Shirley Savage. The Savage family moved to California when she was ten. Debbie met her best friend, Helen (Rodriguez) Salanitro at Edgewood High school in West Covina, California. The friendship would last a lifetime. Both friends would act as each other’s maids of honor, and both would find time to reunite in various cities across the U.S. It was at Edgewood High where Debbie would obtain her cosmetology license and would hold that in both California and Montana all her adult life. Debbie graduated with honors as a Trojan in 1973.

Debbie joined the United States Navy in June of 1976. She was assigned to and finished bootcamp at Orlando, Fl. Her first duty station was Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA. Her orders sent her next to Coronado Island in San Diego, CA. It was here that she would meet her soulmate and lifelong companion, Michael Broderick. Mike and Debbie married April 23, 1977. Married life found them stationed on a naval base in Adak, Alaska. They chose to start their family and Debbie's Naval career ended June 1979. Mike and Debbie welcomed their two daughters while in Adak, Kelly in July 1979, and Kimberly in March 1981. The family settled in Great Falls, MT in 1982. In January 1988, Mike and Debbie welcomed their son, Patrick. The family would relocate to Kalispell, MT in 1994 where they lived and worked until moving back to Great Falls in 2011.

Debbie worked for Montana Fish and Wildlife and retired after working for the State of Montana at FWP after twenty-three years. Debbie made working, juggling three children and then six grandchildren, as well as maintaining an active church life look easy. Family was her top priority. She always remembered everyone's birthdays and sent cards that she had created a lot of the time. Debbie was artistic by nature. She played the guitar, sang in choirs in high school and churches and learned to play the piano later in life. Debbie grew up sewing clothes for herself and made clothing for her children and grandchildren. She was always cutting someone's hair or doing their nails or makeup.

In retirement, Debbie found time to travel. Mike and Debbie spent time in Africa, Israel, Ireland and they were constantly visiting grandchildren and family members in Ohio, Michigan, and California. Debbie's light and beautiful smile will be dearly missed and dearly remembered.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Shirley Savage. She is survived by her husband, Michael Broderick; children, Kelly (Matthew), Kim, and Patrick (Krysta); six grandchildren, Jackson, Liam, Ethan, Hailee, Anna, and Ben; siblings, Cathy Shulenburg, Dennis Savage (Jane), Mark (Becky) Savage, Jeff (Tess) Savage, Mary (Mark) Finley, and Lisa (Jim) Tate; twenty-four nieces and nephews, and forty-four great-nieces and nephews.