Deborah L. Bodei, 60, of Middletown, died May 31, 2024, after a brief illness. She passed peacefully at home, with her husband and her sister by her side. She was born April 20, 1964, in Queens, New York.
Deb is survived by her loving husband, Bill, the proudest husband ever and the luckiest man to have been blessed with the joy of loving Deb. Also surviving are her mother Annette; her younger brothers, Mark and Stephen; her younger sister Laura; and her 12 adoring nieces and nephews, Jake, Emma, Sarah, Jaden, Owen, Gavin, Nicole, Victoria, TJ, James, Jessie and David. Deb was predeceased by her father Artie.
Deb loved her family and adored her nieces and nephews. She had wonderful friends, and she loved them, too. She loved God and being a parishioner at St. Mary’s Church in Middletown.
Deb was an accomplished professional, working her way up in IBM to the role of delivery project executive prior to her accepting an early retirement in 2016. Deb stayed very active in retirement, volunteering for the American Orchid Society (AOS). She studied for seven years to become an AOS-certified accredited orchid judge. Deb used her project management background in a volunteer capacity and delivered numerous projects for the AOS over the past several years, culminating in a two-year-long project to completely remake the AOS website at aos.org which went live at the end of May 2024.
Deb was also the chair of the AOS Judging Committee IT Task Force where she effectively advocated for the technology needs of the more than 500 AOS judges in the judging program. She was also the past president of Deep Cut Orchid Society and served on various committees and task forces. Deb loved teaching others and helping educate her fellow exhibit team members on how to create award-winning orchid displays. Deb was indispensable in putting on the Deep Cut Annual Orchid Show held at Dearborn Market each year.
Please consider a donation in lieu of flowers to St. Mary’s Church in Middletown at stmarychurchnj.org to honor Deb’s memory.
Visit Deb’s online memorial at deb-bodei.forevermissed.com.
The article originally appeared in the June 13 – 19, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
