Debra "Debbie" A. Grosse

Debra Ann “Debbie” Ryder Grosse, devoted sister, aunt, and mom to many fur babies, passed away Friday, June 21, 2024. She was 59. Debbie was born November 21, 1964, in Homestead, FL, the daughter of Charles and Shirley (Ryder) Sweeney. Debbie was extremely proud of her Miami roots and even celebrated her heritage with a tattoo exclaiming “Made in Dade”!

After her parents parted ways, Debbie primarily lived with her father and stepmother Diana Albury Ryder in Carol City, FL. As a child, Debbie was creative and imaginative, always pulling together talent shows to entertain family and making up games to play with her friends and cousins. Some of the family’s most cherished memories revolve around Debbie’s creations, especially on family trips to Maine and the Florida Keys. One particular “talent show” during a Keys trip yielded a family classic tune called “The 12 Days of Conch Key” that will always remind us of the light and life Debbie brought to every occasion.  

In 1982, she graduated from American High School, where she made lasting friendships she would treasure throughout her life. It was also around this time that her parents fulfilled one of Debbie’s greatest wishes – to have siblings. She welcomed her two sisters, Rebecca and Lindsay, and relished any opportunity to spend time with them, often taking them for sleepovers, quick trips to get Cuban coffee and pastelitos, and other adventures.  Lindsay even credits her deep love of reading (and coffee!) to her big sister.  Lindsay, Debbie, and Debbie’s best friend Dana established a book club of sorts, meeting in the Barnes & Noble café to drink cappuccinos and discuss the latest reading selection.  

Debbie was a devoted animal lover, and her ever-present menagerie followed her wherever she lived. From gerbils, birds, and rabbits to dogs and cats, Debbie always found herself caring for small furry or feathered beings, many of which had been stray. She likely owned more than 50 pets throughout her lifetime. Some of her more memorable furry companions include Hula, Bandit, Tiger, Peep, Boo-Boo, Lucky, and Mini.  

Armed with a stubborn commitment to doing things the right way and a penchant for numbers, Debbie’s most satisfying jobs typically involved highly technical and regulated industries. She perhaps found her greatest professional calling working for the City of Parkland in the building and zoning department, where she was employed at the time of her passing. She loved what she did there and the coworkers she proudly worked with. She was fascinated with the subject matter and felt a strong sense of contribution to creating a better world for her neighbors.

That blind and dedicated positivity was a core trait of Debbie’s. Sometimes coming off as a dreamer or an eternal optimist, Debbie preferred to always push through any pain or fear she might be experiencing, always offering a big smile as the cure. A walking dichotomy, she looked at life with an enviable childlike curiosity, but also possessed a fierce intelligence that made her a bit of a news junky.  She was impressively knowledgeable in the areas of world news, politics, and current events. She always wanted to know more and was not afraid to ask hard questions, sometimes very directly.

Debbie is survived by her mother Shirley Sweeney, her sister and brother-in-law Rebecca and David Seyss, her sister Lindsay Ryder, as well as her nephews David and Charles Seyss and her niece Savannah Seyss, along with countless family and friends who will miss her dearly. The family takes solace that she will now be reunited with her father, long-time best friend Dana, and her beloved fur babies in heaven.