Debbie was born July 7, 1967 in Montreal, Quebec. She was a talented business woman, a natural leader and accomplished many things in her 49 years. In addition to Debbie’s many roles in educational publishing, including National Marketing Manager for Pearson Education Canada, she was also a successful entrepreneur. Debbie along with her former partner, co-founded Green Gym Outdoor Fitness Equipment. The company won several awards including Halifax Chamber of Commerce bronze for Small Business of the Year, and named Debbie specifically as honorable mention in the Canadian Entrepreneur of the year category at the 2011 American Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Her company was also featured on Dragon’s Den more than once.
Following this venture, she accepted the role of Director for the Center of Arts and Technology & Health Studies. Most recently, Debbie held the esteemed title of Director of Executive Education for Dalhousie University. She was heavily involved with the Chamber of Commerce and active within the local business community. Debbie’s knowledge of industry, education and her ability to nurture relationships with everyone she met helped her achieve great success over the years.
Debbie always said that her greatest accomplishment was being a mother to 3 amazing children, Will , Maya and Shylee. She lit up whenever she spoke about her children and was so proud of each one of them.
Debbie was fortunate to have been married to Will’s dad and they maintained a positive co- parenting relationship during his upbringing.
She was also blessed to find a partner in Maya and Shylee’s dad and they continued to work together to raise the girls.
She loved to travel and was fortunate enough to do so throughout the United States and Canada often through her work. She spoke often about her recent trip to the Grand Canyon with her parents as being one of the most memorable vacations of her life.
Debbie was the kind of woman who spent her entire life encouraging others around her to succeed. She had a gift for bringing out the best in people and she loved to share in their success. She was smart, nurturing, kind, beautiful inside and out and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Debbie is survived by her son, William (23), daughters, Maya (11) and Shylee (8), parents Franklin and Ethel (Larade) Merry of Cheticamp, brothers Kevin (Synnove) of Norway, Frank (Fiona) of Dartmouth and Brian ( Kazue) of Banff, and her 5 nephews, Benjamin (25), Nicholas (22), Eric (21), and twins Peter and Paul (16).
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 5th between 2-4PM and 7-9 PM at A. L. Mattatall Funeral Home at 217 Portland Street, Dartmouth.
A celebration of Debbie’s life will be held on Thursday, April 6 at 2PM at St. Paul’s Church at 199 Windmill Road, Dartmouth by Father Charlie Burke
A Trust Fund has been set up at the Bank of Nova Scotia, MacDonald Bridge Branch, at 112 Wyse Road, Dartmouth. This fund will help to ensure that Debbie’s daughters, Maya and Shylee, will never have to worry about the costs associated with Post-Secondary Education.
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