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Deborah "Debbie" Gladys Boyd
October 25, 1956 - January 21, 2017
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<div itemprop="description">BOYD, Deborah (Debbie) Gladys <br>October 25, 1956 – January 21, 2017 <br>It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Debbie Boyd at the Agape Hospice on Saturday, January 21, 2017 after a determined and courageous battle with cancer. Cherished and loved by her husband Randy and deeply loved by her son Mitchell (Katie), Edmonton AB, and daughter Kate, Victoria BC. She was a devoted daughter to Doug and Jean Cameron and an older sister to Paul (Roseanne) Cameron of Chatham-Kent ON. Debbie is survived and will be missed by her mother-in-law Elizabeth Boyd, brother-in-law Lindsay (Cindy) Boyd, both of Chatham-Kent ON, and sister-in-law Ann (David) Takacs, Waterford ON. Lovingly respected and greatly missed by several nephews. <br> <br>Upon graduating from Ridgetown District High School in 1974, Debbie embarked on a career in nursing. After being a student of the last graduating class of Mack School of Nursing, St Catherines ON in 1976, Debbie accepted her first Registered Nurse (RN) position in Miami, Florida. In the subsequent year, she returned to Canada and began a lifelong career as an RN in the operating room. This work in the surgical field was carried out at St. Joseph’s Hospital, London ON (1977 – 1981); Foothills Hospital, Calgary AB (1981 - 1986); and Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary AB (1986 – 2016). Her professionalism towards the surgical patients was widely respected. This eventually led to Debbie being asked to be a team member of the True North Missions group, from 2011 – 2015, in Cuenca, Ecuador. This charitable organization provides surgical assistance to those who have no other access to medical services. <br> <br>Debbie’s primary commitment was always to her family. This included sitting on the sidelines at soccer, baseball and hockey games cheering on her children or volunteering for the various minor sports organizations. For over 10 years she was a ski mom, taking her daughter to various ski hills in Alberta and British Columbia for training and racing. In later years, she watched her children grow into mature adults, cheering them on in their educational and career pursuits. Most of her days and evenings after her children left home were spent with Randy cooking a new recipe and having a long conversation over a glass of fine red wine. <br> <br>To Debbie’s friends, her shopping abilities were legendary and she was always happy to share those skills with those she loved. She always had a keen ability to turn any trip into a shopping adventure. From the middle of the Southeast Asian jungle to the small local corner boutique. She always was on the hunt for a good deal but never limited her shopping to herself. She always was selfless and returned with gifts for all her family and friends to enjoy. <br> <br>With a passion for the outdoors, she had a lifelong interest in travel, even at a young age; especially visiting all the continents of the world. She shared her passion for travel and sporting activities with her husband Randy. Some of Debbie’s favourite memories included: having a glass of champagne on top of the Eiffel Tower for her 30th wedding anniversary; taking care of and riding an elephant in Chiang Mai, Thailand; and back packing throughout Southeast Asia with her daughter. Locally she was attracted to the mountains, lakes and ocean coasts of western Canada and United States. Summers were spent hiking, biking, golfing, picking huckleberries and doing lazy lake floats on Shuswap Lake BC. Winter activities included snow shoeing and pursuing the perfect downhill ski run at Kimberley BC. <br> <br>Debbie’s positive attitude, encouraging spirit and happy outlook on life will be deeply missed by family, friends and co-workers. <br> <br>Debbie’s family would especially like to thank the palliative medical staffs of Unit 47, Tom Baker Cancer Clinic and Agape Hospice for their care and compassion during Debbie’s stay prior to her passing. <br> <br>A Celebration of Debbie’s life will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Eden Brook Funeral Home (corner of 17th Avenue SW and Lower Springbank Road) at 2:00 pm. A second service will be held Saturday, February 11, 2017 at St. John’s Botany United Church (12377 Botany Line, Kent Bridge ON) at 2:00 pm. For those wishing to make memorial donations in Debbie’s memory, please forward to: Tom Baker Cancer Centre (https://albertacancer.ca/donate/cancer-centre; Agape Hospice (http://www.agapehospice.ca/donations.asp); or True North Missions Society (http://truenorthmissionssociety.ca). Condolences may be forwarded by visiting www.edenbrookcemetery.ca. <br></div>