NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Debra "Debbie" Mary Soha, 61, of North Adams, Mass., passed peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital on Monday, December 17, 2018, from long-term illness.

At the time of her passing, she was with her husband James "Jim" Soha of North Adams, her eldest son, Charles Soha of Revere, Mass., and her youngest son, Zachary Soha of North Adams. She leaves behind her mother, Jean Plankey, of North Adams; brother Timothy Plankey of North Adams and brother Thomas Plankey of Titusville, Fla.; as well as many in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and countless friends both near and far. An avid dog lover, she was predeceased by her favorite pets Zabo, Zeke, and most notably – Sneakers. She leaves behind Xander to take care of Jim.

Debbie was born on July 1, 1957, in Adams, Mass., to Charles N. and Eleanor (Wojcik) Plankey and shared a lifelong special relationship with her aunt Emily (Plankey) Bassett. She attended regional schools, graduating from Drury High School with the class of 1975. After high school, she was a bartender in Adams, Mass., where she met her husband James, while also becoming a certified cosmetologist. She then worked at the Pins and Curls Beauty Salon on State Road.

Debbie's pride, joy and only true priority until her passing was being the most loving and available mother possible to her two sons, as evident by her decision to start her own home daycare business in 1990. She cared for countless children from North Adams and Adams and treated them as her own. She served decades-long terms in leadership positions at the Greylock School PTA and Drury High School Band Parents. After retiring from her daycare business in 2001, she worked briefly as a paraprofessional at CT Plunkett Elementary School before finishing her career as a store manager for 12 years at Christopher Banks the Berkshire Mall, where she had a passion for organizing fashion shows.

Debbie took care of everyone she crossed paths with and carried out the works of God that many others often only speak of. To know Debbie is to love Debbie and almost certainly to have been baked for by Debbie. She has left us too soon, but she both loved others and was loved by others more than anyone could expect in a lifetime twice as long.

Funeral notice: Calling hours will be Thursday, December 20, 2018, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Flynn and Dagnoli Funeral Home, Central Chapel, 74 Marshall St.  North Adams. A celebration of life and Liturgy of Christian Burial will be at St. Elizabeth Parish at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 21, 2018. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are welcome to Debbie’s favorite charities: Little Sisters of the Poor, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in care of the funeral home.