Deborah Jean Handley

life story

Loving daughter, mother and grandmother.

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our very loved Mother and Grandmother, Deborah Jean (Hylland) Handley. Deb passed away naturally Sept 18th in her home.

Deb was born in Edina, MN in 1955 to Ione and Herbert Hylland. Deb was a very outgoing and free spirited lady - she never met a person she didn’t treat like family or a close friend. She spent her life as a very dedicated daughter to her mother Ione, and a very dedicated Mother to her sons, raising them to be 3 amazing and accomplished men. She had a love for hockey, plants, cooking, fishing, canning, gardening, jewelry making, and costume fashion. She spent a portion of her life in Canada where her sons were born, until moving back to MN to be closer to her family in 1993. She was a natural with children, an amazing Grandmother to her 4 Grandchildren, and the most amazing gift-giver and thrifter you could ever know.

Deb is preceded in death by her Mother, Ione Hylland, Father Herbert Hylland, Brother Terry Hylland, and Mother-In-Law Dorothy Birnie. Survived by her 3 sons John Robert (Bethany) Birnie, James (Amanda) Birnie and Daniel (Chelsea) Birnie; Brother Jeff Hylland, Grandchildren Cora, Jillian, Audrey, Julian, Jordan and her beloved Granddog, Leelou.

memorial service

Memorial at Rob and Bethanys Home

October 15, 2021

1227 Tiller Ln, Arden Hills, MN