Debra G Shropshire

Debra Garibaldi Shropshire departed this life peacefully at home surrounded by her close family on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the age of 69. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 2, 1954. She and her family were active members of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where Debra was baptized, made her First Holy Communion, received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and was married. She also attended St. Joan of Arc Elementary School and St. Joseph High School. Debra graduated with honors from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1976 where she was a member of the Epsilon Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and reigned as Miss Xavier (1975-1976). After college, Debra worked for Chesebrough-Ponds, Inc. and Garibaldi’s Boutique in Minneapolis, Minnesota before returning to New Orleans to work for the Louisiana State Unemployment Office. At Andrew J. Bell Junior High, she was a Spanish teacher and coached volleyball and cheerleading. She also taught at Livingston Middle School and Abramson High School. After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, she relocated to Woodbury, Minnesota where she lived for 18 years and taught at Higher Ground Academy and for the St. Paul Public School System. Debra is the beloved wife of Alphonse Shropshire for the past 40 years. They had two children, Kelly and Steven. They were a remarkably close family surrounded by an extremely large and close extended family who were always celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or simple family gatherings. Debra was a devout Catholic who prayed the rosary often. She is survived by her loving husband, Alphonse; her son Steven; brothers: Arnold Garibaldi (Lynne), Antoine Garibaldi (Carol), and Christopher Garibaldi; sisters-in-law, Betty Garibaldi, Leslie Garibaldi, Dr. Julane Shropshire, and Vanessa Shropshire, brothers-in-law, Robert Leonetti and Lonnie Shropshire, Jr., and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends. Debra was preceded in death by her parents, Augustin and Marie Brulé Garibaldi, her daughter Kelly Marie Shropshire, five siblings: Augustin B. Garibaldi, Amadee Garibaldi, Sr., Alfreda Garibaldi Leonetti, Agnes Garibaldi, Alvin Garibaldi, her mothers-in-law Katie Junius and Dorothy Mae Shropshire, and her beloved Aunt Theresa Porter Burrell. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 8321 Burthe St. NOLA. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., and the service will take place at 11:00 a.m. The repast will follow at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Joan of Arc Church. To view the service virtually, go to Facebook.com/BlessedSacramentSaintJoanOfArc or via YouTube on the Blessed Sacrament St Joan of Arc Parish New Orleans page at https://youtube.com/@blessedsacramentstjoanofar8788?si=QuBFa89aIKJBnNEH Arrangement by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the guestbook.