Deborah Jane Bono

Almost everyone’s relationship with our mom felt like one long coffee talk — or cocktails, if that was your thing. She loved a good conversation: sharing day-to-day updates, debating what to make for dinner, giggling over silly things, and working through the hard parts of life together. Most of all, she talked about family — not just the one she was born into, but the one she chose and held close.

As the middle child of eleven, she grew up in a lively home of five girls and six boys. She used to laugh about asking her mother if she really needed so many children, and Grandma’s answer stayed with her: she wanted every single one — she chose them. That idea became the foundation of how Mom lived her life. Family wasn’t accidental. It was intentional, nurtured, and cherished. She kept in constant contact with her siblings and their families and took any chance she could to spend time together.

Her love for her husband, Ron, and the many years and adventures they shared together were a constant source of joy, comfort, and deep happiness in her life. She found strength and comfort in the steady love and support of her children, Simon and Dallas, and their families, who surrounded her with care. Her grandchildren, especially, were her heart — the light of her days and her favourite companions for special childhood adventures like fishing at the cabin.

Over the years, she faced a long list of health battles with quiet resilience. In the end, it wasn’t her spirit that gave out, but her heart — the one that pumped, not the one that loved. That loving heart only seemed to grow larger in her final years. She made a point to tell people how she felt about them, how much they mattered, and how grateful she was to have them in her life. If she didn’t get a chance to tell you directly, know she was thinking of you.

She leaves behind a family bound not just by blood, but by choice, conversation, laughter, and love — just the way she would have wanted.

Our family is profoundly grateful to the nurses and care aides in Courtenay and the team at the Gold River Clinic, whose kindness and compassion supported her through her final chapter.

We invite you to share your stories and photos of Mom, to have a coffee or a cocktail in her honour, and to pour one out for Deb.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.