Deborah Ann Darrah

"Just live for each second without hesitation"
- Elton John

"The less I seek my source for some definitive, the closer I am to fine."
- Indigo Girls


“When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure.”

Deborah Ann Darrah, crafter, traveller, computer geek, food enthusiast daughter of John and Rita (Bourque) Darrah and beloved sister and friend to so many, passed away on Christmas night. Her happy spirit, and the love she showed to those who knew her will be greatly missed.

Debbie spent her young life in Ingleside and then West Saint John, surrounded by her large and loving family, many childhood friends, and various stray cats. She graduated from SJHS and at 18 was off to STU in Fredericton, with a curios spirit that, after a decade in Ottawa, sent her across Canada and the US as an IT specialist. She lived in Calgary, Toronto, Washington DC, Austin, TX and also Hawaii and never missed an opportunity to fly Joe and Rita, or one of her sisters, to wherever she was so they could share in her adventures.

Debbie was very social and kept her friends and family close, be it hitting the slopes, travelling, touring a winery or hosting gatherings at her home in Bedford during the years she spent in Nova Scotia. Always eager to try new recipes, plan new travels, and engage in the next craft project it was amazing she found time for her garden, which was always well loved.

Debbie's journey saw her involved in several choirs, and she took great joy in various genres of music, musicals and singing...alone in the shower, in her car or with her sisters at karaoke...she sang. She was also an avid reader and when she started to slow down, she loved doing puzzles, soduko and crosswords.

Her illness brought her back to Saint John where she was able to spend time with her mom and sisters before Aphasia stole her from us far too soon.

Debbie was survived by her 6 siblings (Shawn, Joanne Pitt, Darlene Elliott (Steve), Kevin, Julie Brooks (Bill) and Christine (Joe). and many loving friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Aphasia Institute through CanadaHelps.org.

Our thanks goes out to the care teams at Sea Street Manor, the CAM unit at St. Joseph's hospital and Rocmoura Nursing Home, where Debbie spent her final years.

Visitation (11am) and memorial service (12pm) will take place at Fundy Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 30.