Deborah K Berlin Thelen

Deborah Kay Berlin Thelen was born on February 18, 1956 in Lansing, Michigan to parents Patricia Louise and Lawrence Charles Berlin. She was a sister to David Berlin and Denise (Berlin) Ilieff. Deborah was always a protector of the people close to her. At a young age, Deborah's father passed away, forcing her mother to work long hours to support the three children. Deborah always stood up to protect Denise and David acting as a mother figure at times. Deborah, David, and Denise enjoyed golfing, tennis, bowling, and roller skating together. She had an immense love for the arts, including her love of painting and ballet. Deborah and her husband, William (Bill) Marvin Thelen met during Bill's senior year at Michigan State University. She was extremely supportive of Bill while he attended Michigan State and after his graduation. Bill moved to Texas in search of better opportunities, and Deborah remained in Lansing, Michigan. Bill and Deborah continued to communicate while Bill was in Texas which tested their relationship, but Bill and Deborah realized they did not want to be without each other. Six months later, Deborah took a leap of faith and boarded the airplane with an African violet on her lap that was given to her by Bill. While in Texas, their love for each other continued to grow. One day Bill proposed to Deborah at the top of Reunion Tower in the restaurant that revolved and overlooked Dallas, Texas. This place symbolized their future life in Dallas, Texas. Bill and Deborah were married on July 2, 1983 at All Saints Catholic Church in Dallas, Texas. Prior to starting their family, they traveled to Hawaii, New York City, Puerto Rico, Colorado, and San Francisco, enjoying each other's company. After purchasing their first home in Carrollton, Texas, they started a family. Nicholle Lindsey Thelen was born on July, 5 1989, and William Ryan Thelen II was born on August 29, 1993. In order to raise her two children, Deborah sacrificed her career to stay at home as a full time mother. She was a selfless mother, never asking for anything, and was always concerned about the well-being of her family. She extolled her children and raised them to value education and exude confidence. She always taught them to honor their word, and she stressed the importance of responsibilities. Deborah was never afraid to laugh and play with Nicholle and Ryan, even crawling on her knees just to entertain them. She always put her family before herself, doing whatever she could to make her family feel loved and happy. She would gently wake up her children in morning with a kiss, write notes in their lunches that she prepared, and send messages every day to tell them how much she loved them. To give her children better opportunities, she moved her family to Plano, Texas, in 1994, allowing them to enroll in a reputable school district. Always making sure her children excelled in life, she encouraged them to explore different interests and supported the pursuits they chose. Deborah was very artistic and enjoyed crafts. She used her creativity to assist Nicholle and Ryan with school projects. She encouraged faith and spread the message of the Lord through her selfless actions and love. She never valued herself over others. She genuinely cared about everyone and not just those close to her. She loved all and treated others as if they were part of her family. By her doing this, she created an even bigger family not bound by blood but love. Deborah will always be remembered for spirit. She lived a life filled with laughter and joy. Through her presence and impact on the lives of others, she will continue to live. No words here can express her exceptional role as a wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend to those she love. Husband William Marvin Thelen, daughter Nicholle Lindsey Thelen and her fiancé David Bechtel, son William Ryan Thelen II,
step-father Larry Knuth, brother David Berlin, sister Denise Ilieff and her husband Andrew,
brothers in law Paul Thelen and his wife Ann, Luke Thelen and his wife Jane, Lawrence Thelen and his wife Ellen, Phillip Thelen, Stanley Thelen and his wife Patricia, Dennis Thelen and his wife Dianna and sister in law Denise Cushion. Deborah was preceded in death by her father Lawrence Charles Berlin, mother Patricia Louise Berlin Knuth, father in law Jerome Thelen, mother in law Genevieve Thelen, brother in law James Thelen, sister in law
Diane Urbanik and her husband Anthony Urbanik.
The family will receive friends for a visitation Monday, March 14, 2016 from 7:00-8:30 pm at Allen Family Funeral Options with Words of Remembrance spoken at 7:30 pm. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 11:00 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas 75023. With a reception to follow the mass in the Parrish Hall. Deborah will be laid to rest at Ridgeview Memorial Park, Allen, Texas. Pallbearers William Marvin Thelen, William Ryan Thelen II, David Bechtel, Andrew Ilieff, Stanley Thelen and Dennis Thelen.