Debra J. Bussard

Debra “Deb” Bussard passed away on August 29, 2020, after a valiant battle with cancer. She was born May 9, 1955, in South Bend, Indiana, to Lee and Patricia Bussard, who predeceased her.

Survivors include her spouse, Tina L. Weaver; sisters, Candace Bussard and Judy Shealy; nephew, Christopher Earl; beloved niece, Samantha Williams (Jon); several great nephews and a niece; her extended family and many, many, many friends.

Deb received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from Indiana University in 1979 and a Master's of Science in Counseling from Indiana University in 1983. She held licences as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Child Life Specialist.

Deb worked as a Residential Director for Nobel Centers, Program Director at REM-Indiana and a Therapist at Expressive Therapies Center of Indianapolis.

She worked at Methodist Hospital as a Adolescent Child Life Specialist for over 20 years. She worked with hospitalized children and their families by coordinating various activities and programs to help them process what they were going through. She also worked with student interns as they did on-hand training in the Child Life field. Many of these students stayed in touch with Deb over the years as they valued her mentoring and friendship.

Deb spent the last 10 years working for Community Health Network as a School Based Therapist, serving youth and their families in the Indianapolis Public Schools. She cherished her interaction with each and every child that came into her life. She thought of them as her own little family and watched many of them as they rose through their school years, sometimes celebrating their accomplishments with them.

She retired from Community Health Network this past May, to enjoy time with her family and many friends.

Prior to moving to Indianapolis, Deb held the position as Program Coordinator for ADEC in Elkhart County.

Deb was an active supporter and volunteer of the Community Referral Service, AIDS Hotline and Gay/Lesbian Switchboard from 1985 to 2002, serving as an operator and trainer.

She was also a Program Coordinator for the National Women's Music Festival (Women In the Arts) from 1992 to 2002, coordinating the health program series.

Her heart was always focused in the community.

Deb was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church, Indianapolis.

Deb was the beloved nucleus of a wide circle of friends and family, always at the center of any gathering with her kind, compassionate personality and infectious laugh. She was involved in her community and had an engaging spirit, embracing life fully even as her health declined.

She loved spending time with friends, painting, playing in whatever pool she could get in to, traveling to beautiful sunny beaches, camping, movies, organizing pitch-ins, collecting earrings and spoiling her dogs, Tibbs and Teva. Wherever she went, she carried her pink SuperWoman tumbler filled with the drink of her choice for the goddess that she was. She will always be in our hearts as we were always in hers.

A Memorial Visitation will be held September 19 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Indiana Funeral Care - Harry W. Moore Chapel, 8151 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250.

Donations can be made to the Humane Society of Indianapolis in memory of Deb, as she deeply believed every little fur-baby deserves a home.