Rev. Deborah M. Strickland
Born In: North Sydney
Born: July 22nd, 1956
Passed in: North Sydney
Passed on: February 9th, 2016
Reverend Deborah Strickland passed away gently on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, at the Northside General Hospital, North Sydney, after a courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Deborah was born July 22, 1956 in North Sydney to parents Gavinna (MacAulay) MacKenzie and the late Rindress MacKenzie.
After graduating from Baddeck Rural High School, Deborah studied at the Cape Breton Regional Vocational School graduating as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Moving to Halifax she was initially employed at the Halifax Infirmary before moving to the Grace Maternity Hospital where she worked for 15 years. Upon returning to Cape Breton in 1996, she worked for four years as office manager in the Baddeck Veterinary Clinic before graduating as a medical lab assistant and then worked for the Cape Breton District Health Authority until she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2011.
Deborah was ordained a Deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada on May 8, 2011 at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in North Sydney and was ordained to the Priesthood on Dec. 7th of that same year at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, in Halifax by the Right Reverend Sue Moxley, Diocesan Bishop. It was well known to all who knew and loved her that she gave the best of her time and God given talents throughout her ministry with a deep passion and love for her home parish of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church.
Besides her mother Gavinna, Deborah is survived by her eldest son, Russell; daughter, Katie (Gary Grace), and grandsons, “Gramma’s Boys”, Gavin and Kane, along with her youngest son, Spencer (Jolene Vickers). Also left to mourn are her sisters, Eileen MacDonald, Joyce Trenholm, Doreen (Wayne) Jardine, Gwen (Joey) MacLean, Leona (Pat) Penney, sister-in-law, Elma MacKenzie, her longtime friend and companion, Donnie Patterson, her many nieces and nephews, Blaise (Carol), Rindress (Renee), Susan, Kim, Kyle (Sylvia), Tracey (Kevin), Scott (Amanda), Courtney (Mark), Christopher (Patricia), Pat, David (Christina), Brian, Jay (Susan), Dawn Marie (Parker) and many grandnieces and nephews, whom she cherished spending time with, especially making gingerbread houses at Christmas. She is also survived by a special cousin, Cindy Landry and uncle, Eldridge (Betty) MacAulay.
Deborah also leaves behind to mourn her best friend and confidant Jackie Warren; along with her “Bestest Friends”, Connie Barnes, Anne Carter, Phyllis Reno, Betty Mansfield, Paulette Brown and Judy Hardy.
Deborah was predeceased by her father, Rindress MacKenzie on June 14, 2014 and her only brother, Raymond on Oct. 25, 2006.
Visitation for Deborah will be held from 2-8 p.m. on Thursday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, North Sydney with Bishop Ron Cutler officiating with reception to follow in the church hall. Cremation will take place with burial at a later date in Black Rock Cemetery.
Family flowers only please. Memorial donations may be made to Deborah’s home parish of St. John the Baptist Anglican Church, the N.S./P.E.I. Anglican Diocese Lay Leadership Fund, 1340 Martello St., Halifax, St. James Presbyterian Church, Big Bras d’Or or the Canadian Cancer Society “Lodge that Gives”, 5826 South Street, Halifax.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
