Deborah "Debbie" Dassau

Deborah “Debbie” Dassau, 68, of Franklin, Massachusetts, passed away on September 30, 2026, after a courageous battle with metastatic lung cancer.

Born in Framingham, MA, on December 16, 1957, Debbie was the daughter of the late Dorothy and James Bernardi. From the very beginning, Debbie was never alone. She was also born a twin, alongside her best friend and partner-in-crime, Dianne. Their bond became one that only twins can truly understand; a connection that remained unbreakable throughout every chapter of their lives.

A twin and one of nine siblings, Debbie grew up surrounded by a large, loving Italian family that set the foundation she carried with her throughout her life. She married Paul Dassau of Framingham in 1988, and together they built a life centered on the importance of family, love, and laughter. In 1994, they would settle in Franklin, where their family flourished.

Of all the roles Debbie held in her life, being a mother was the one she cherished most. Her two children, Paul and Nicole, were the center of her world. She was endlessly proud of the people they became. Debbie was their fiercest protector, biggest cheerleader, and greatest source of strength. The only role to challenge her love for motherhood, though, may have been her newly bestowed title of “Gigi” to her grandson, Boden “Bodie” James Dassau, the first grandchild, whom we welcomed to the world in June.

A social butterfly, Debbie loved being out and about and surrounded by people. She enjoyed a sunny day at the beach, making friends at every ball field, and hosting holiday gatherings for friends and family. She even loved going to work because, for Debbie, it was always the people she was with who made these moments so special. She also had a gift for making people feel at home, usually with food. Debbie’s Italian cooking was legendary, particularly her meatballs, lasagna, and famous calzones, all made from scratch. If you knew Debbie, you most likely received a calzone, prepared with love and wrapped in a perfect bow, as a gift around the holidays.

Debbie also spent many years building a successful career in banking, where her ability to connect with others served her well. She proudly held roles at Bankvest, Eaton Financial, AT&T, Strata Bank, and ultimately in commercial lending at DCU, where she retired at the end of 2024. If not for her illness, Debbie may have worked forever simply for the social aspect. She remained very close with many colleagues who became some of her closest friends.

Overall, Debbie was a fiercely loyal woman of remarkable strength, courage, and unwavering love. She never backed down from a challenge and was never afraid to speak her mind. If Debbie had an opinion, you absolutely knew it, and that may have been one of her very best traits. She stood her ground, fought hard for the people she loved, and faced life’s challenges with a determination that inspired everyone around her. Even when life gave her more than her share of difficult battles, Debbie met every single one of them head-on. There was truly no one like her, and she will be sorely missed.

Debbie is survived by her husband, Paul Dassau, Sr., her beloved children, Paul Dassau, Jr. and his wife Sydney Dassau, and Nicole Dassau, her grandson, Boden Dassau, her siblings, James Bernardi, Ronald Bernardi, Dianne Kerrissey and her husband William Kerrissey, Kenneth Foster, Leonard Foster, Tamara Carroll and her husband John Carroll, and Michael Burrows, as well as many, many in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and James Bernardi, her brother, John Bernardi, and aunts and uncles whom she loved dearly.

Family and friends are invited to attend her services. Calling hours will be held at Charles F. Oteri and Son Funeral Home in Franklin, MA, on Friday, October 9, from 5-7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held the following morning at St. Mary’s Parish in Franklin on Saturday, October 10, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Debbie’s memory to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund in support of cancer research and patient care at dana-farber.org/gift

Guestbook www.franklinfuneral.com