Viola Amelia Deblon

Viola Amelia Deblon age 94 of Cumming, Georgia passed away peacefully on May 21, 2020 just days shy of what would have been her 95th birthday. She’s now celebrating in Heaven.   She was born on May 26th,1925 as the only child to Julia & Lester Martin in Richfield Park, New Jersey.  

Viola had a captivating laugh and a huge, warm hearted smile for everyone and the biggest heart. She was very unique and could do or fix anything! She would tell everyone “I Love you!”, even the nurses in the hospital just weeks ago. She learned those traits through her family.  She was an only child and had a huge, loud, gregarious extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles that she remained close with her entire life.  

Viola went to school in Union City, New Jersey.  She told stories of frequent family gatherings and Sunday dinners where everyone would bring enormous cakes and pasta. Viola and her cousins loved to go dancing and into New York City to watch Broadway shows.  She still could outdance many of the younger people well into her late 80’s whenever she had the opportunity. 

She met her husband George through her father. Her late husband George and Viola’s Dad, Lester, met on a job site. Mr. Martin very much approved of the young George and he set them up. They fell in love and were married in 1949 at Saint Francis Cathloic Church in Ridgefield Park, NJ.  They first resided in Richfield Park with her parents,helping to care for Viola’s ailing father. Shortly after their sons Gerald and Thomas were born they bought their first home in Paramus, NJ.  The young family then moved to Oakland NJ after her husband became an Engineer at RCA where he helped design electronics for televisions. It was there that her youngest child and only daughter, Barbara Claire was born.  They were very active in their church, helping build Our Lady of Perpetual Health in Oakland, New Jersey.  They were founding members of the church back when the church was just a Mission and celebrated mass in the VFW hall before the actual church was built in 1962.   

Viola was the quintessential mother of the 1950’s and early 60’s.  She was a full time taxi, shuffling her children, a den mother for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts baseball, dance, and even sewed drill team costumes for parades and competitions.  Viola’s father passed away and Viola’s mother Julia (Nanny) then moved in with the family.  They lived in Oakland until the early 1970’s when her husband George was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. They moved to Florida under the doctor's guidance and to be closer to George’s father George (Poppy) Deblon Sr.  and stepmother Irene.  They disliked the heat and humidity and decided to move back to New Jersey a few years later.  They moved into the retirement community of Holiday City in Toms River, NJ but were the “youngsters” of the block.  Viola was so fit and able bodied she’d jokingly complain that all the “old” people  were always asking her for help.  With a handicaped husband she had learned to fix anything. She was always helping her neighbors.  She was very creative and was a wiz at macrame, ceramics, sewing, beautiful flower arrangements and cooking delicious food. She was rarely idle.  She was a wonderful caregiver for her husband and her mother Julia (Nanny). She also loved animals and had many pets through the years.  She especially loved her cat “Angel”, that was actually the meanest and fattest cat you could ever meet! 

A family member or friend could show up at her house unexpectedly and magically trays of food would appear out of thin air, platters of lunch meats and cheese perfectly rolled on a tray with cookies and assorted snacks.   After her husband George and Mother, Julia (Nanny) passed away she decided to move closer to her daughter Barbara, son-in-Law Greg, and their two boys to Tuckerton, NJ.  She loved cheering for her grandson’s baseball games.  She remained active in her church. She loved having daily visits from her grandsons after school.  Her two granddaughters lived a few hours away in Sussex County. She loved spending time there as well.  In 2003 her youngest child Barbara passed away unexpectedly leaving behind her two teenage sons Derek & Drew.   She lived in Tuckerton until she was in her mid 80’s then moved to Georgia with her son Jerry and his wife Janice. 

Viola had a huge heart and gave to every charity that called her, often sacrificing her needs for a cause she thought was higher.  She always had a radiant smile but was incredibly resilient and pulling through many challenges until the very end.  She was much loved and will be missed by everyone, her beloved family, rosary group and caregivers at her nursing home.   

Viola was predeceased by husband George, and her daughter Barbara and daughter-in-law Janice. She is survived by her sons Gerald (Jerry) of Cumming, GA  and Thomas (Tom) and his wife Patrica of Fredon NJ and son-in-law Greg of Tuckerton NJ,  her four grandchildren, Tracy and her husband Doug of Atlanta GA, Derek and his wife Marka in Pueblo Co, Drew, Denver CO, and Kristine and her husband Michael of Calais, VT.  She has six great grandchildren, Allison & Sydney, Hattie & Theo and Claire & Josh. A memorial will be held on May 29th, 2020 1:30-2:30 visitation and memorial service at 2:30pm at Ingram Funeral Home.   Due to Covid-19 masks and social distancing will be required.  Her Interment will take place at a later date in NJ.  In lieu of flowers the family ask

Check donations can be made out to: Good Shepherd Catholic Church SVDP mailed to Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 3040 Holtzclaw Road, Cumming GA 30041 or The Atlanta Food Bank in honor of Viola Deblon

Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA 30040 is in charge of arrangements.