The Reverend Mr. James K. Debrason
Permanent Deacon, Saint Anthony of Padua Parish, Lorain

died, Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the Cleveland Clinic after having received the prayerful support and consolation of the Sacraments. Deacon Debrason had been ill for some time. James K. Debrason was born on 11 July 1938 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Jim’s family moved to Ohio in 1948. Jim graduated from Lorain High School in 1956. He served actively in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1958 and in the reserves from 1958 to 1962. Jim was
employed at U.S. Steel. He held many different positions with the company until his retirement in 1999.


Jim married Irene Szymanel on 11 October 1958 at Saint Stanislaus Church in Lorain. Their marriage brought them four children: Susan Marie (Miller), James Christopher, Nancy Agnes (Yakovich) and Christelle (Jacobs) and six grandchildren.


Jim was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on 10 May 2003 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Cleveland, Ohio by the Most Reverend Anthony M. Pilla. Following his ordination, he was assigned to Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Lorain, Ohio. Jim exercised a full liturgical ministry including preaching, baptizing, and witnessing marriages.