Debora Ann (Jordan) Cherington died on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at The University of Vermont Medical Center, in Burlington. Known to friends and family as "Debi", she was born in Burlington on July 13, 1954, and grew up in Essex Jct. She attended local public schools and graduated from Essex High School. She attended UVM and, later in life, earned a bachelors degree from Trinity College, in Burlington. Debi had a long career as a preschool teacher, working at VT Nurses Association Child Care Center, in Burlington, Trinity College Child Care Center, and Burlington Childrens Space. Later she worked in Montpelier, at the Family Center of Washington County. On October 14, 1995, she was married, in Calais, VT, to Reed Cherington, to whom she was introduced by mutual friends, Scott Bassage and Charlotte Hanna. Although she had no children of her own, Debi loved, and was loved, by countless children, including her three step-grandchildren Kate, Alex, and Calvin; and her grand-nephew Waydon. While a student at UVM, she spent summers with Frank and Jane Emanuel, caring for their children. She formed a lifelong relationship with the Emanuel family that helped compensate for broken ties with her birth family. Debi lived in the Burlington area until 2005, when she and Reed moved to Calais. There she reveled in country life, increasing her awareness of nature and the importance of teaching children about it. She kept a flock of chickens and a pair of miniature goats, in addition to two house cats. She volunteered at Calais Elementary School and North Branch Nature Center, and joined the Unitarian-Universalist Church, in Montpelier. In spite of the joy she experienced pursuing her passions, Debi suffered from episodes of severe depression for much of her life. She was diagnosed with, and treated for, Lyme disease this past Spring. She died while in intensive care, five days after attempting to take her own life. Debi was predeceased by her close friend, Amy Wise. She is survived by her husband, Reed, of Calais; two grown step-children, Stephen Cherington, of Houston, TX, and Donna (Cherington) Conlon, of Beaufort, SC; three grandchildren, Kate, Alex and Calvin; a favorite niece, Emmalee Cherington, of Monkton, VT; grand-nephew Waydon Cherington; the Emanuel Family, of Lahaina, HI and Woodinville, WA., and many other dear friends. A memorial service will be held 2:00pm on Sunday, August 19th at the Montpelier Unitarian-Universalist Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602, with a reception to follow. Those wishing to make memorial contributions might consider the North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier, VT 05602. On-line condolences may be sent to www.guareandsons.com