Deborah “Debbie” Lyn Bell, 74, of the Reservoir Road, Peru, died Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the UVM Health Network, CVPH in Plattsburgh surrounded by her loved ones.

Debbie was born in Schenectady, August 23, 1951, the daughter of Arlington and Doris (West) Van Dyke. She grew up in Middleburgh, NY and graduated from Middleburgh High School in 1969. She spent 1969-1970 in Sweden as a foreign exchange student. In 1971, her education continued at PSUC where she later graduated with a BSN in Nursing.

While working at CVPH Debbie met Howard Paul Bell. They fell in love and were married on April 16, 1977 in her hometown of Middleburgh, NY at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.

Debbie started work at CVPH Medical Center in 1974, as Staff Nurse, on the newly created Skilled Nurse Unit on the 6 main wing. Thru the years her career continued to grow. She obtained Certification as a Geriatric Nurse Specialist. After Debbie became the Director of Nursing on SNF, she started to take Master Degree courses to become a Nurse Practitioner. In September of 2009 she received the New York Association of Homes and Services for the Aging’s Long Term Care Employee of Distinction award. After a few years as the Director of Nursing on SNF, Debbie stepped out of that role and became the Day Shift Charge Nurse. She had missed being one on one with her patients and was happy to be back on the floor with them until her retirement in the Fall of 2014 after 40 years of loving and dedicated service.

She was a member of Peru Community Church, working with, and on the Board, for many years. She also enjoyed preparing the altar at Church.

Debbie enjoyed many types of crafting, needlepoint, and sewing. But one of her biggest joys was playing her piano. Whether playing at home, or occasionally at weddings, or for Church Services, it brought her great happiness. As an Alto she participated with the Lake Side Corral group.

Left to cherish the memory of Debbie are, her loving husband of 49 years, Howard Paul Bell; two daughters Megan Poirier (Eric), and Hilary Cross (Chad), their grandchildren (Owen, Caden, Eli and Hadley), and her youngest brother Kevin Van Dyke ( Peggy), and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her older brother Darryl and his wife Georgia.

Debbie’s family will receive guests at the Peru Community Church on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 10 to 11 AM. At 11, members of the Nursing Honor Guard will offer the Nurses Prayer and Nursing Tributes, followed by a funeral service. A reception will follow in the Peru Community Church Fellowship Center. Burial will be held privately at a later date in God’s Acre Cemetery.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation, Breakthrough T1D, or the Peru Community Church Memorial fund.

Coltrain Funeral Home, LLC of Middleburgh extends gratitude to The Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc of Peru, NY in caring for Debbie and her family.

Please visit www.hamiltonfuneralhome.com for online floral and memorial tree planting information.