Obituary of Deborah Rae DaCruz
Belchertown—Deborah R. (Scheurich) DaCruz, 67, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Friday, March 4, 2022. Daughter of John and the late Mary (Myers) Scheurich, she was born in Millville, NJ on November 5, 1954. After graduating from Ludlow High School, Deborah went on to obtain her BSBA from Western New England University and she started her accounting career with Donald Houghton, CPA firm in Springfield, where she worked for many years. She later became controller for Ludlow Hospital and from there reconnected with her college friend and professional colleague Maria Gomes. Debbie joined her friend as a partner at Gomes, DaCruz, & Tracy P.C. for over 20 years. After her retirement she completed her professional career for a family owned business Grand Prix International Inc. and went on to continue to maintain her CPA credentials. Deborah was a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as a member of the MA Society of Certified Public Accountants. She served on the board of directors of the Luso Federal Credit Union and the Ludlow Youth Soccer Association. She was also honored for being named The Who’s Who of American Women in Finance.
Her interests and hobbies were watching soccer games with her late husband Armand DaCruz and going to the Western MA Pioneers games. She also loved gardening and cross stich; she was an avid game player like her farming game Hay Day and Scrabble. She loved being in the know and hanging out with her grandkids. She always loved going to Ocean City, NJ to visit family and on family vacations every year.
Deborah will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her, including her father John Scheurich, her two daughters, Lisa and her husband Joseph Bodzinski of Belchertown and their 4 children (Fiona and Owen Murphy and Paige and Jake Bodzinski); Jill Evans and her fiance Joe Felsentreger of Holyoke; and her 3 step children, Christina and her husband Steve Mscisz and their 2 children (Olivia & Lucas ); Matt & Angelina DaCruz and their 4 children ( Maya, Ezra, Luca, & Mila ); Andrew DaCruz and his wife and 2 children. She is also survived by her 3 siblings, Jack Scheurich, Cindy Van Hooydonk, and Barbara Fisher as well as and her nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 4pm-7pm on Friday, March 18, 2022 at Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home, 10 Maple St. A memorial service will be held the following morning in the funeral home beginning at 10:30 am followed by a procession for her burial in Island Pond Cemetery, Ludlow. Friends may gather at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations in Deborah’s honor. For donations and checks the family has designated “Lisa Bodzinski” to collect and follow her mom’s wishes for donating.
