Debra Parise (née Comeford), 75, of Oak Park, died on Tuesday afternoon, March 17, surrounded by her family. She was a woman whose wit, generosity, and compassion left a lasting imprint on others. Born and raised in Oak Park, she was preceded in death by her parents, Anna Rose and James Comeford. She was also preceded by her husband, Fred Parise Jr., who passed away in 1999, as well as her siblings Joe, Mike, Carole, and Pat Comeford.
She began her career in education, pausing to dedicate herself to raising her four daughters. After the heartbreaking loss of her husband, she returned to teaching at St. Vincent School in River Forest. In the face of profound loss, she became the backbone of her family — putting each daughter through college and showing them by example what resilience, strength, and unconditional love look like.
She was steady, dependable, and always there when needed. Though delightfully clumsy at times, she balanced it with a sharp wit and a gift for humor, often delivering hilarious turns of phrase and unforgettable one-liners that kept her family laughing.
With a special talent for making holidays and birthdays memorable, she created traditions, fostered deep bonds, and built a foundation of love and togetherness.
Deb is survived by her four daughters, Laura Parise, Jenny Ford and her husband, Christopher Ford, Susan Koronkiewicz and her husband, David Koronkiewicz, and Julie Tarpley and her husband, Steve Tarpley; her grandchildren, Jack, Ryan, and Luke Ford, Trey and Freddie Koronkiewicz, and Teddy and Harry Tarpley; and her brothers, Timmy and Larry Comeford.