Deborah Mary Chisholm

Deborah Mary Chisholm (nee Anderson)

April 1, 1954 (Assiniboia, Saskatchewan) – September 13, 2023 (Gravenhurst, Ontario)

Cherished daughter of William and Kathleen Anderson, soul-mate, partner and wife of Bernie Chisholm, mother of Katie (Phil) and Jennifer, Nana of William and Hailey Hiemstra, sister of Kathy (Dan), Kevin, Barbara, Christine (Kenn), Tracy, Tony (Karen), and Howard (Jennifer), sister-in-law of Bob (Andrea), Helen, Jack (Debbie), Jerome (Carol), Greg, Paul (Anne Marie), Mary (Peter), Janet (John), and Jim. Predeceased by brother Michael, brother-in-law Kevin and fondly remembered by a loving legion of Anderson and Chisholm nieces and nephews.  Friend, Cheerleader, Seamstress, Baker, Teacher, Reader, Traveller, Social Organizer, Passionate and Beloved Person.

Debby graduated from St. Joseph Wellsley College School (Toronto), Waterloo University (B.A.) and the University of Toronto OISE (MEd).  She was a classroom and resource teacher and principal with the Toronto Catholic District School Board and finished her education career in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where she was the principal of the primary school at Mont’ Kiara International.  During her teaching career Deb’s special area of interest and joy was promoting literacy both within her own schools and more broadly through her organizational work with the annual Reading for the Love of It Conference in Toronto.  Debby was a voracious reader and shared that joy with her own children and grandkiddies.

Throughout her life Debby contributed to her communities: providing housing in her own home for three refugees during the exodus of boat people from Vietnam and working to formulate and manage a charity called The Canadian Friends of Peru. After she and Bernie moved to Gravenhurst Deb volunteered on the executive for local groups:  GAP - Gravenhurst Against Poverty, the Gravenhurst Library Board, CFUW - the Canadian Federation of University Women, Circles and Probus.

Debby and Bernie met while at high school forming and achieving a lifelong loving partnership and marriage of 46 years.  They lived most of those years in the Parkview Hills neighbourhood in three homes within one block of each other.  There they nurtured and raised two strong and wonderful daughters whom Deb loved to the moon and back. When Deb retired from the TCDSB she and Bernie embarked on an adventure living in Kuala Lumpur and used those 4 years to travel extensively in East Asia as well as to welcome and act as tour guides for many friends and family members who visited them there.  Debby and Bernie spent every summer at their cottage, which eventually became their home, in Muskoka on Muldrew Lake.  The large deck there witnessed hundreds of funny stories, political discussions and debates and jokes as well as the downing of the occasional Caesar, glass of wine and can of beer.

By far Debby’s most creative and cherished accomplishment was her family and her very strong friendship bonds.  As life threw her health challenges Debby faced them straight on with focus, fortitude, bravery and determination.  On Wednesday, September 13^th she shed her earthly pain overlooking the pines on the lake she loved, on her terms and surrounded by the love she had nurtured all her life.

We will miss her laughter, fun sense of humour and her beautiful blue eyes.

A celebration of Debby’s life will take place in the 4th floor party room at 98 Lillian Street in Toronto on October 15, 2023 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers  donations may be made to The Canadian Friends of Peru: email to canadianfriendsofperu@gmail.com. For more information visit https://canadianfriendsofperu.wordpress.com/.