Obituary of Marilyn Debra Eldridge

Age 68, of Bishopville, peacefully passed away after a brief bout with lung cancer on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in the VG Site, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax. Debbie was born in the old Payzant Hospital in Windsor, to the late Paul and Karleen (Smith) Eldridge on May 20, 1955.

Debbie attended Horton District High School and graduated around 1973. She had the opportunity to work at Bonny Lea Farms a few summers in her teenage years and this inspired her career of helping and caring for others as a nurse. Deb spent 31 years looking after patients at the VG Hospital on 7A, 9A and the 10th floor with a number of beloved and cherished nurse friends.

Debbie had numerous hobbies and passions. She always had a furry friend nearby, either a horse in the earlier years or a playful cat, who had been aptly named after a favourite historical figure. Debbie was constantly reading and some of her favourite subjects to read about were the royal family, Winston Churchill, local history, the murder mysteries of Mary Higgins Clark and the fantastical world of Terry Brooks. It was virtually impossible to beat Debbie in a game of Trivial Pursuit due to the vast number of disparate random facts she had amassed from her voracious reading. Reading about the royals and Churchill was supplemented by her many trips to Britain. London was by far her favourite place to sojourn, though she had also enjoyed travelling to Australia, South America and the USA. Following in her ancestor’s family footsteps, she spent many hours puttering in her garden and had a special fondness for the Victorian garden she cultivated in her backyard.

In the past few years Deb took a keen interest in her family genealogy and this branched out to volunteering and working for the West Hants Historical Society where she enthusiastically shared her passion for local history. She will be fondly remembered by her curling buddies at the Windsor Curling Club. She always enjoyed watching curling on TV and was so proud of herself for taking up the sport and not being half bad at it.

Debbie is survived by her siblings, Barry, Nadine, Peter, Carol-Ann, Philip and Janis; many nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Deb was predeceased by her stepfather, Melvin Hebb.

Debbie’s wisdom, sage advice and witty sarcasm will be sorely missed by all her friends and family.

Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., Windsor (902-798-8317). A public graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 4, 2024 in Riverbank Cemetery, Hantsport, Rev. Penny Nelson officiating. Please bring a chair and umbrella if required. A reception will follow in the Hants Border Community Hall, 13893 Hwy. 1, Hants Border. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Debbie may be made to your local SPCA. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca