Remembering Our Mom
Michael Mcdowell
105w
2024 Road Rally
Love you Aunt Deb
Always remembering our beautiful mom and grandma,
Deborah Helen Barry (Woodward)
December 1, 1954 – September 3, 2022
Lived 67 years
Bayview Cemetery · Port Rowan, Ontario
She gave so much, but asked for so little.
Life story
Deb was a powerhouse. Growing up as the oldest of 8 children and then having three of her own while a very young woman, she persevered. Deb worked so hard in life to be successful and give her family everything she could. She was affectionately known as Grandma Duck by her six grandchildren, the oldest of whom gave her that nickname as a way of differentiating her from her other grandmas. The name stuck and it seems that she became known to everyone as Gma Duck!
Ask anyone that knew her and you will quickly discover that other than her family, her passion for baking was known for miles around! It seems that she cooked for her family and the greater community on a daily basis. Treats like brownies, scotcharoos, pies, hello dollies and her famous apple squares were delivered with a smile. It brought Deb so much happiness to be able to bake for others. And she always knew exactly which treat was each person's favourite and would ensure that they were never without. It's interesting to note that Deb never really enjoyed sweet treats herself, but she sure enjoyed sharing them!
Deb had also discovered the joy of travel in the few years before she passed away and she had big plans for the places she wanted to go and the things she wanted to see. Unfortunately, she passed just as she was starting to experience a little more freedom from the responsibilities of work. She now had the time and money to afford to travel, but her cancer diagnosis, combined with Covid meant that she didn't get to travel the way she would have liked. In an attempt to honour her, Deb's family continues her travel dreams in a unique and fun way - search for and join the Facebook group, 'Around the World With Grandma Duck' to learn more and follow along with her travels!
Photos
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Photo book
Deborah’s life, in a printed book
We design every page from Deborah’s 33 photos. Make it yours, then order a copy for everyone who loved Deborah.
Videos
Lifetime
The world Deborah knew
Family milestones in gold, history for context
1954
Born December 1
1954
Deb Was Born
1957
Deborah was 3 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik
1962
Deborah was 8 when the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war
1972
Deb Became a Mom
1972
Deborah was 18 when Paul Henderson's goal won the Summit Series against the Soviet Union
1974
The Twins Were Born
1980
Deborah was 26 when Terry Fox began his Marathon of Hope across Canada
1991
Deborah was 37 when the Soviet Union dissolved
2002
Deborah was 48 when Canada's men won Olympic hockey gold for the first time in 50 years
2010
Deborah was 56 when Sidney Crosby's golden goal won Olympic gold in Vancouver
2021
Diagnosed with Cancer
2021
Deborah was 67 when the James Webb Space Telescope was launched
2022
Passed away September 3, age 67
Tributes and memories
6 memories shared
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Susie Anderson
105w
2024 car rally
Missing you alot
Teagan Fitch
105w
Road Rally 2024
Tribute along the way, love you GMA🤍
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105w
Road Rally 2024
Missing you on this great adventure today!
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105w
Road rally 2024
Thinking of you today on our road rally. Wishing you were here to share in this fun family moment. But we know you’re with us always. We love you Dave, cohen and Kaitlyn (The A team)
Sherri Fitch
124w
Around the World With Grandma Duck
https://www.facebook.com/groups/846704633480870 - This Facebook group (Around the World With Grandma Duck) was created as a tribute to Deb and her desire to travel and see the world! Unfortunately, she passed away before she could realize all of her travel dreams, so people now take 'Grandma Ducks' along with them when they travel and share her adventures! Just look at the resemblance between the real Grandma Duck and her traveling duck! This picture of her was taken just a short time before she passed and shows her white hair (that grew back this colour after chemotherapy), her favourite red sweater (that she wore almost daily in the final year of life), her dark glasses and although she's holding a water bottle in this pic, black coffee was her drink of choice. We couldn't have found a better rubber duck to represent her - it was meant to be! This has been a unique, meaningful and fun way to honour our mom/grandma! We love knowing that people are remembering and thinking about Deb long after she has passed and we are so thankful to everyone who participates to help Gma Duck see the world! Feel free to search for Around the World With Grandma Duck on Facebook, join the group and follow along with her travels!
Family and friends
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