Deborah C. “Debbie” Ognibene

A lifelong area resident, she was born Nov. 7, 1949, in Falconer, the daughter of the late William J. and Janis “Maude” Lewis Kilmartin III.

Debbie was a graduate of Falconer Central School and in earlier years was employed by Bud’s Carriage House, Three Flames Restaurant, Midcontinent Phone Company, Chautauqua Institution, and the former Town Club. Prior to retirement, she was employed by Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church as the Director of Religious Education and served as President of the Mount Olivet Cemetery Association.

In addition to being an active member of Our Lady of Loreto parish, Debbie also served as their Youth Director; a troop leader for Girl Scouts of America, and a den mother for Boy Scouts of America.

Debbie was a woman of many talents, but perhaps her greatest was defying expectations. Despite being Irish, she somehow managed to cook like a true Italian. Her kitchen was a sacred place–unless, of course, you dared to question her methods. Measurements? Who needed them? Recipes? Overrated. She cooked with instinct, heart, and just the right amount of stubbornness. If you asked how long to cook something, you’d get the classic “Until it’s done”. If you thought you could sneak a bite before she was finished, you’d better be ready for a swift slap on the hand–because some rules were universal, no matter your heritage.

Beyond her legendary cooking, she was a woman of warmth, humor, and resilience. She had a way of making people feel at home, whether it was with a well-timed joke, or a blunt piece of advice that you didn’t ask for, but she felt you needed. Later in life, she found great joy in watching her grandkids create cherished memories during family holidays and birthday celebrations.

She leaves behind a family grateful for the years of laughter, and the stories they’ll continue to tell. Surviving is her husband Vincent R. “Jim” Ognibene whom she married May 21, 1977 at Christ First United Methodist Church in Jamestown; her daughter Leslie (Todd) Melquist of Jamestown and their four children Alexandra, Graciella, Christopher, and Katherine Melquist; her son Phillip (Megan) Ognibene of Falconer and their four children Vincent and Archer Ognibene, Kylie Weeks, and Kendra Strong; three brothers William J. (Sharon) Kilmartin IV, Sean Kilmartin, all of Falconer, Kelly (LouAnn) Kilmartin of Mayville; her sister-in-law Sandy Kilmartin of Mayville; and sister-in-law Sharon (William) Kalbaugh of Greensboro, NC. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a brother Patric Kilmartin; a niece Shanna Kilmartin, a nephew Sean L. Kilmartin II and her sister-in-law Susan Kilmartin.

Friends will be received from 5-7 pm Thursday, February 13, in the Falconer Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at 10 am Friday, February 14, in the Falconer Funeral Home. Father Marcin Porada will officiate. Inurnment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lennox-Gastaut Foundation at www.lgsfoundation.org or the Cleveland Clinic Research Foundation at www.my.clevelandclinic.org/giving.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the nurses and aides at Heritage Green who showed such compassion and care for Debbie in her final days. Your kindness, patience, and dedication brought comfort not only to her, but to our entire family.

Visit our website at www.falconerfuneralhome.net to send a message of condolence.