Debra K. Pepe, 68, of Oakdale, PA, died on March 21, 2024 from complications of metastatic breast cancer at the Blake Hospital in Bradenton, Florida. She was born April 9, 1955, in Uniontown, PA, and was the eldest child of Freda (Riedmann) and Carl W. Metz, Sr. Debra graduated from Albert Gallatin High School. Debra married her husband, Philip Pepe, in 1979 and they celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary last December.
Debra enjoyed working in her flower gardens, geocaching, doing crossword and Sudoku puzzles and reading books. She also spent time volunteering at the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.
She was preceded in death by her father, Carl. Surviving in addition to her mother, Freda and husband, Philip are her daughters, April (Mike) Saville of Oakdale, PA, and Andrea (Aaron) Gray of Johnstown, PA; granddaughter Alexis Tarquinio of Oakdale, PA; sisters Susan (Robert)
Schiffbauer, Carla (James) Moneck, Pamela (Dennis) Vicinelly, Melinda (Mark) Quarrick; brothers Carl (Sherry) Metz, Donald (Mary) Metz, and Bruce (Holly) Metz and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held at 10.00 a.m. on April 9, 2024 at St. Columbkille Church in Imperial,PA, followed by inurnment at the St. Columbkille Cemetery. Following inurnment, a Celebration of Life will be held at the North Fayette VFD hall at 7678 Steubenville Pike, Oakdale, PA.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden in memory of Debra can be made online at https://pittsburghbotanicgarden.org/support/#tributes.
Brown and Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209 is handling arrangements.
