Debora Lee Jucha

With saddened hearts we announce that Debora (Debbie) Lee Jucha passed away peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital Palliative Care Unit at 3am Sunday March 12, 2017 with her husband of 25 years, Ken, at her side. Debbie is an inspiration to us all, demonstrating strength, poise and grace while battling Colon Cancer for 6 years.

Debbie is survived and dearly missed by her loving husband Ken and son Corey Sadler (Christine Hokkanen), mother Ethel Murray, sisters Wendy (Gord) Bruce and Jill (Rob) DeGagne, brothers Cam Murray and Bryan Murray, niece Marcy Bruce, nephews Brad Bruce, Mathew, Robbie and Marc DeGagne, mother-in-law Anna Jucha, sister-in-law Cindy (Pat) Miller and beloved family pet Eddie. She was predeceased by her father William (Bill/Waxy) C. Murray and father-in-law Jan Jucha.

Debbie was born July 1, 1953 in Fort William, Ontario (Thunder Bay). Debbie is the oldest of five siblings who all share an amazing love for each other.

Debbie was eager to be involved in many different fronts, including Wesley United Church High C Club and Women’s League, Student Council at Sir Winston Churchill High School and Thunder Bay Jaycettes.

Music was a big part of Debbie’s life, studying classical piano as well as playing clarinet in the Thunder Bay City Band along with her good friend Pam Oshimo and later teaching piano to family and friends.

In her younger years, Debbie experienced most every sport imaginable. When family members and friends would talk about their latest sports adventure, Debbie was quick to point out her experiences and guidance in areas like downhill skiing, lacrosse and archery to name a few. Debbie’s biggest sports accomplishment has to be the successful completion of a half marathon in 2004 and a full marathon in 2009 that she and her sister Jill experienced together.

Debbie, Ken and Corey enjoyed many years at their camp at East Floral Beach on Lake Superior and more recently at their Headwaters Condo on Lake of the Woods in Kenora, developing many new friendships along the way. It seemed like Wendy and Gord came with the Kenora Condo as they were there as often as we were, all in support of Debbie. Lifelong friends, Chrissy, Allison, Roma and Sue made several trips to Kenora to visit Debbie for a ‘girl’s weekend’.

Debbie worked at Sennett’s Variety Store, Hacquoil Construction, The Kenora Board of Education and Lakehead Public Schools, before leaving Thunder Bay and moving to Winnipeg to become a Tim Hortons Restaurant Owner with husband Ken. Debbie and Ken worked very hard to build their business and develop a very strong management team. A very special thank you to our entire team at Tim Hortons for affording Ken the time to devote to Debbie during the challenging times of her illness.

Debbie spent her last 38 days at St Boniface Palliative Care where she received extraordinary and compassionate care from the entire team at the unit. Debbie’s family travelled to Winnipeg as much as they could over the past several weeks, and we would like to offer a special thank you to Debbie’s good friend Judith Williamson and Ken’s sister Cindy for filling in to ensure that Debbie was never alone when the immediate family could not be there. We would also like to offer special thanks to the many Health Care Professionals and Volunteers that took such good care of Debbie over the past 6 years.

Thank you to all the family, friends, staff members, business associates and fellow Franchisees for the outpouring of support during Debbie’s difficult journey.

As per Debbie’s wishes, cremation has taken place in Winnipeg and internment, followed by a celebration of life will take place in Thunder Bay at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Deb’s honour to any of the following deserving agencies or an agency of your choice:

Victoria General Hospital, Buhler Cancer Centre

St. Boniface Hospital, Palliative Care Unit

Cancer Care Manitoba

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation-Cancer Care

“Remembering your wonderful and gentle soul will forever remain in our hearts.”