Debra Ann Botta

Debra Ann Botta, 59, of Fort Lauderdale, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 10th, 2021 at Holy Cross Hospital after battling advanced Stage 4 Lung Cancer for the past three and a half years. When Deb was first diagnosed, her expected survival was a few months. She never gave up, ever, and always lived knowing that every day was a gift from God. She was surrounded by her loving husband and children when God called her to heaven as one of his angels.

Deb was born July 31, 1961 in LaPorte, Indiana to James and Evelyn Moffitt. Her loving older brother, Greg Moffitt, survives her. She was a pharmacist, and her passion was to bring light into peoples’ lives through her knowledge, spirit and graceful ways. Upon graduation from Purdue University, she made her way to Florida where she fell in love with the beaches. From that point on, she spent every Saturday running as the sun rose, with many friends who became her extended family. This is also where she eventually met her husband, Edward Hengtgen in July 2011. They married July 25, 2020 and as she often stated it was “one of the happiest days of her life.” Her marriage was blessed by having her children Emily and Anthony Botta, and new son, Whitman Hengtgen participate with her closest friend Julie Stones officiating the ceremony. Many of Deb’s and Ed’s closest friends were able to attend and many others Zoomed in.

Deb was an accomplished athlete, completing in multiple marathons, including the world-famous Boston and Chicago Marathons. She also excelled as a duathlete, landing a spot on the podium in most races. She was a top 50 women’s duathlete in Florida and qualified for the US duathlon women’s world team. Just prior to her diagnosis, at the age of 56, she was ranked in the top 100 of women’s world duathletes for her age group. Deb also holds a black belt in Karate.

Deb loved to be surrounded by happiness, love and God and she lived every day doing just that. This is how she left us as well. Please join us for a celebration of her life on March 21, 2021, from 11AM to 2PM at Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home, 4601 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308.

Please share your condolences with the family at; https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/fort-lauderdale-fl/debra-botta-10094371

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to two special organizations that were close to Deb’s heart;

1. UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center www.miami.edu/givesylvester, select the fund in the drop down or search on the right. Enter the memorial/tribute information during the order process.

2. Hand of Hope; https://joycemeyer.org/handofhope/projectgrl