We Remember
SERVICE INFO UPDATED – HARDING, Debra Gay (née Kaufman)
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A Memorial Service will be held for Debra Harding on FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2022, at 10:00 AM, at SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC. A reception will follow.
Debra Gay Harding (née Kaufman) went to be with the Lord on October 24, 2020, at the age of 59. She is survived by her loving husband Douglas Harding of Lake Country, BC; brother Scott Kaufman (Cindy) of San Antonio, Texas; father Carl Bohs of Edmonds, Washington; mother-in-law Eloise Harding of Nakusp, BC; sisters-in-law Leslie Tochor (Les) of Calgary, Alberta; Patricia Donnelly (Todd) of Calgary, Alberta; brother-in-law Daniel Harding (Kelly) of Edmonton, Alberta; along with many wonderful nieces and nephews throughout Canada and the United States. Debra was predeceased by her brother Chris Kaufman in 2015 and her mother Betty Bohs in August 2020.
Debra was born in Texas City, Texas on August 11, 1961 and lived in the area for 17 years before relocating to Oregon and eventually settling in the Seattle area until 1994. After getting married to Douglas in Washington State, she moved to Kelowna, BC. Debra became a Canadian citizen a few years later and was proud to call Canada her home.
Debra worked at Riverside Forest Products, in Sales and Marketing in specialty plywood, for a number of years before changing her career path to go into real estate. Debra eventually had the opportunity to work for the University of British Columbia and in 2010 accepted the Sales & Services Manager position for Conferences and Accommodations.
While in this role, Debra served on the Board of Directors as National Marketing Director for the College and University Conference Organizers Association from 2011 to 2014. Debra also sat on the Tourism Kelowna Board and volunteered with the UBC Okanagan United Way Campaign. In 2015, Debra graduated with her Master Degree in Education from the University of British Columbia and in 2018, joined the UBC Human Resource Department as the Workplace Learning and Engagement Associate where she continued to move forward with her love for lifelong learning.
A very special and heartfelt thank-you goes out to all of the healthcare professionals and care providers who worked with Debbie along her journey for the last nine months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Cancer Agency in Kelowna, www.bccancer.bc.ca.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
Service
FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2022, at 10:00 AM
Location
SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME
Share with Others:
BC Cancer Agency Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior Link: www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/centres-clinics/bc-cancer%E2%80%93kelowna
Service Information
Service Details
The service for SERVICE INFO UPDATED – HARDING, Debra Gay (née Kaufman) is scheduled for FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2022, at 10:00 AM. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
SPRINGFIELD FUNERAL HOME
2020 Springfield Road Kelowna, BC
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
We are deeply saddened and shocked to read this news. Although it has been a few years since we crossed paths we want to give our heartfelt condolences to all. Deb was a wonderful person, beautiful inside and out.
We’re so sorry to hear about Deb’s passing. You two were such a fun loving couple and it was so easy to see the connection you had. We love ya Doug our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My heartfelt condolences go out to Doug. She was very loved and respected at UBC. Her sunny disposition will be greatly missed on campus. My heart feels very heavy with sadness of this loss.
I was so sad to hear of Deb’s passing. She was an amazing soul and such an inspiration. She definitely had a positive impact on my life and she will be missed. My heart goes out to her family.
My deepest condolences for your loss. Deb was a positive, shining light at UBC. She will be greatly missed.
I’m so sorry to hear of Deb’s illness and passing and wanted to send some love to her family and close friends. Deb was one of the first people I met when I started at UBC and I was lucky to work with her each summer organizing different events and always enjoyed our chats around campus. She was always so friendly, genuine and such a kind-hearted person and her bright spirit will always be missed. I participate in the Ride to Conquer Cancer each year, and my 2021 ride will be dedicated to Deb.
May you find some comfort in the many wonderful memories of Debbie 🙂
Rest in peace dear, sweet sister. We will always cherish the beautiful memories of our time together with you and Doug. We will greatly miss your beautiful smile. Deepest sympathies, Scott & Cindy
Debbie was a treasured person in my life and I will always cherish that wonderful friendship we had. We shared the special connection of a history filled with many happy times, including our mutual love of music, silliness and laughs, serious conversations, and yes, sometimes even tears too. Her radiant smile and her sense of humor always lit up the room and made everything more fun! Even though I hadn’t seen Debbie in person for over 10 years because we’d both long ago left WA – she to Canada and I to Southern California, I will deeply miss her, as I know everyone else whose lives she was ever a part of, will too. I know I am blessed to have had the gift of Debbie’s friendship and I will always keep her close in my heart. My love and prayers go out to her loving husband, Doug who was always right by her side every step of the way during her last and most difficult journey.
Rest in heaven, my sweet friend.
My most heartfelt sympathies to Doug, and to all Debbie’s family and friends as they deal with this loss. Although it had been years since I saw Debbie, I remembered fondly the years we worked together, and the fun times outside of work. I remember the palpable joy the day she and Doug were married. Debbie’s smile and laughter could light up a room. May wonderful memories be a blessing. Prayers for comfort and peace.
First and foremost, from Dave and I, our most heartfelt and deepest condolences go out to you Doug, our dear friend. You were Deb’s love of her life…her soulmate, and she was yours. Deb and I met in our senior year of high school–an amazing 42 years ago, and became best friends since the first day we met! No matter where we were in our lives, or what was happening with each other, we always had this amazing connection and always knew we were there for each other–through good times, and bad, it didn’t matter. We shared many a tear over the years, but we also shared so much laughter and fun! Whether it was trips up to Kelowna and out to “The Bush”, our trips to Hawaii, or trips out on our boat in the Puget Sound and Gulf Islands in Canada, or just trips down here to Seattle to hang out with Dave and I, they were always an adventure…and they are memories we will treasure and cherish forever! I feel so blessed to have shared such an amazingly wonderful and dear to my heart friendship with Deb these past 42 years. She was a truly shining star in my life! She had such a beautiful smile and a contagious laugh that touched not only my heart, but all the hearts of those who had the very good fortune of knowing her as well. She will be so greatly missed, not just by me, but by so many dear family and friends, but she will never be forgotten, as she will always, ALWAYS be in our hearts! I love you my BEST friend Deb…always and forever!
I’m so sorry to hear of Debbie’s passing. She was a bright light in our lives. She was the jokester in our office and had an angelic face that hid her mischief. She spoke of her deep love of Doug and we were honored to witness their wedding. I hope treasured memories will soften the grief for Doug and her family.
I also wanted to add that our hearts go out not only to Doug, but also to all his and her family and friends, and we wish them all peace, comfort, and love to help heal the sadness of such a huge loss. I have added another picture…one of my favorites–of Deb and I–such wonderful memories I will always treasure of my dearest friend💖
Nathalie and I are extremely saddened by the news of Deb’s passing. Deb was extremely important to me in two significant instances: she was a rock in building our real estate company and I certainly could not have built a foundation without her, and she was at our wedding day. Our sympathies go out to you Doug and thinking of you during this difficult time. We will certainly miss her but she will forever be remembered.
With utter shock and devastation that I write of my friend Debbie Harding’s death.
She was the most genuine of people and always the kindest. I wanted to post some pics of us and had to drag out the old photo albums to do so. There wasn’t internet, social media, cell phones back then. It was a simpler life and I miss it dearly.
Deb and I both went back to college in our late twenties at Seattle University. This is where we met. We were both living on our own, working part time and going to school full time. It was hard but we slogged through the years together and graduated together in 1989. Super young, cute, and fresh out of college we launched our careers and took Seattle by storm. The concerts, theatre, shopping, outdoors, we did it all and had a blast. All that was missing was the right man.
Deb and I met and married our husbands within a few months of each other. Deb moved to Canada and she loved it. We did not see each other as much but always kept in touch. Last year we both celebrated out 25th wedding anniversaries and I followed Deb and Doug on FB as they traveled through New Zealand. I remember seeing a pic of Deb zip lining through the New Zealand jungle and thinking you go girl.
Deb came home to ovarian cancer and I did not know she was sick. That was her decision and I respect that. She passed away too young and just on the precipice of her retirement years she worked so hard for. I will never forget here genuine smile, beauty and kindness. She will always be a part of the fabric of my life and have a special place in my heart. RIP my friend.
Doug, I am saddened by your loss. I hope that you feel surrounded with love through all of the stories and recollections that people are sharing. My story is simple, she inspired me, she made me laugh and she invited me to live life to its fullest. I am forever thankful that she and I connected, and forever sad that she is no longer here to share her gifts. I miss her every day.