November 15, 1954 – October 25, 2026
Debra Ann (Lukasik) Samson, 71, entered the gates of heaven peacefully in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family, on Sunday, October 25, 2026. She was the devoted wife of John J. Samson, Sr.,with whom she shared 52 wonderful years of marriage.
Debra was born in Chicopee Falls, MA on November 15, 1954, to Kathleen (Langan) Lukasik and the late Stanley Lukasik. She met her future husband at the local McDonald’s downtown, next to the Air Force base in Chicopee,Massachusetts, where she was immediately intrigued by his bright red dune buggy. When John returned from his overseas duty in Guam and Okinawa toward the end of the Vietnam War, he looked her up, and the rest was history. As newlyweds,they moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to begin their life in the Air Force, and later relocated to Zaragoza, Spain, where their two children, Angela and John Jr., were born.
Debra pursued a lifelong passion for makeup and modeling, which began during her high school years when she attended modeling school. For many years, she shared her talent and enthusiasm as a makeup artist instructor at the John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center in Berlin, CT, inspiring others and teaching anyone who shared her vision for a professional look and healthy, wrinkle-free skin. In her senior years, she was a proud contestant in the Ms. Connecticut Senior America pageant in both 2022 and 2023.
Debra especially cherished the Christmas season, bringing joy to all as Mrs. Claus alongside her husband, John, who played Santa. Together, they appeared as background actors in various film and media productions, including Ken Jeong Breaks Christmas, HBO’s Santa Camp (filmed in part at Lake Compounce in Connecticut), an unnamed movie filmed at Hollandia Nursery in Bethel, CT, and features in the New York Times and INC. magazine.
She loved traveling to New York by train with her dear "friend-sisters" to attend tapings of The View and The Rosie O'Donnell Show, as well as taking trips to Newport, Rhode Island, and the Maine coastline with her husband and family.Though she had only one biological brother, Debra was blessed with a cherished group of lifelong friends she called sisters—including Maria, Sophie, Elaine, Debra, Connie, Dianne, Dolores, and Barbara, among many others—with whom she would talk for hours on end. Above all, she deeply cherished her grandchildren and beamed with pride celebrating their many adventures and achievements.
Debra was a longtime member of both the Phoenix Club of Beacon Falls, Inc. and the Connecticut Society of Santas.
Besides her husband, John, and her mother, Kathleen, Debra is survived by:
Her Children: Angela Moffat and her husband, Steve, of Beacon Falls; and John J. Samson, Jr. and his wife, Gina,of Waterbury.
Her Grandchildren: Gavin Moffat, Aidan Moffat, and Brody Samson.
Her Brother: Ronald Lukasik and his wife, Doreen, of Chicopee, MA.
Extended Family: Many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was predeceased by her beloved dog babies: GiGi, Sammy, and Kimmy.
Arrangements & Services
Calling Hours:
Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Chase Parkway Memorial / The Albini Family Funeral Home
430 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT
Mass of Christian Burial:
Monday, November 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM
St. Michael Roman Catholic Church
25 Maple Avenue, Beacon Falls, CT
(All attending are kindly asked to meet directly at the church on Monday morning.)
Burial:
Following the Mass at the State of Connecticut Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, CT.
Memorial Donations
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Debra’s memory may be made to:
Phoenix Club of Beacon Falls
3 Timberland Way, Beacon Falls, CT 06403
Connecticut Society of Santas
(Donations may be made online via their official website.)
