In the presence of her loving family, Deborah Suzanne (Bernhardt) Vilandre passed away on June 11, 2026, at her home in Cheney, Washington, after a two-year battle with ALS. She was 63 years old.
A celebration of her life will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, September 20, at the Elks Lodge. Everyone is invited to celebrate Debbie’s life with her family. Those who would like to share a dish may bring one, and the family would enjoy hearing stories or memories.
"Your presence alone would be heartwarming to the family," a member wrote.
Debbie was born in Sitka, Alaska, on May 17, 1963, to Robert and Nina (Elliott) Bernhardt. She grew up in Sitka and graduated from Sitka High School in 1981. After High School Debbie married Dennis Vilandre June 2, 1984, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where her parents also were married. Debbie and Dennis have five children all born in Sitka: Lindsey Alyse, Kale Robert, Blayne Neil, Trace James, and Bae Carson.
Debbie and her family remained in Sitka enjoying time with her parents, grandmother, siblings and many wonderful friends until September 2006. It was at this then that they moved to Cheney to be closer to daughter Lindsey, who had moved there to attend college. Debbie enjoyed spending time with her children and was a huge supporter of her children’s activities and lives.
Later in life when her children were grown, she continued to enjoy spending family time and going on family vacations with them as well as their significant others. Debbie loved coming back to Sitka each summer to visit her parents, siblings and friends; and doing all the fun things Sitka has to offer.
Things Debbie loved to do were going to musicals, game nights with her children, vacationing in Hawaii, going to a beach, riding 4-wheelers on Kruzof Island, camping, fishing and being out on the ocean in any capacity. She found so much joy in her last job as a para, working with her special children whom she called her “littles.” But the most important things to her were family and friends.
She will always be remembered for her smiling face, great humor and her kind and caring soul.
Debbie was preceded in death by her Mother Nina (Elliott) Bernhardt, Father Robert Bernhardt, her in-laws Mary Lou and Frank Neil Vilandre, and her niece Vanessa Vilandre. Also preceding her was her dear friend Millie Thomas.
She is survived by her husband, Dennis Vilandre; her daughter Lindsey and her sons, Kale (Jordan Mahr), Blayne (Sarah Williams), Trace and Bae; her sister Roberta Bernhardt, and nieces and nephews Angela McGraw (Bill Spivey), Katrina Gardner (David Gardner), Tyler Wagner (Allana Lumbard) and Parker White (Zaide Allen); her brother David Bernhardt, niece Kacie (Adam) Larson and nephew Kendall Bernhardt; and her brother Gary (Paige) Bernhardt and niece Riley Bernhardt.
Also surviving are her brother-in-law Dale Vilandre and nephew Ryan Vilandre' brother-in-law Duane (Vonnie) Vilandre and nephew Duane Neil Vilandre, brother-in-law Don (Lisa) Vilandre; numerous cousins and other family members; and her many friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Debbie’s name to the ALS Association.
