Our dear Mum and Grandma, Debbie Illi (nee Lee) passed on from us with her daughters by her side on 5 September after many years fighting cancer.
She leaves behind a very loving family including her younger daughter Danielle, her granddaughter Grace, her eldest daughter and her husband Tricia and Andy and grandson Cameron. She will also be remembered fondly as Aunty Debbie by her nephew Tonny and his wife Lin.
Debbie was born and raised in Toronto by her parents Robert (d. 1990) and Bette (d. 2012) Lee, alongside her younger brother David (d. 2015). The family moved to Victoria in 1970 and shortly afterwards Debbie met her first husband, Chris Barrington-Boam, father to Tricia and Danielle. It was in 1983 that Debbie met her second husband and life partner Istvan ‘Steve’ Illi (d. 2019).
After Debbie and Steve married in 1986, they moved their family to North Vancouver, where Debbie began her career at ICBC shortly after. The two would also enjoy living in the Kelowna area before settling in Debbie’s beloved Victoria once again in 1999.
Debbie loved afternoon tea, lilacs, the colour pink, hummingbirds and chocolate eclairs from the Dutch Bakery. She was an avid reader who loved Mary Poppins, learning about the history of Victoria and above all else loved a good murder mystery! Debbie’s favourite place was Beacon Hill Park, picnicking with her grandchildren, putting on the golf green and visiting the petting farm. When you would like to remember Debbie at her happiest, think of her as you walk the colourful gardens in the park, wander over the footbridges, listen to the wail of the peacocks and watch the ducks and turtles sunning in the lakes. She’ll be there with you.
Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened…
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you,
for an interval somewhere very near,
just around the corner.
All is well
Nothing is hurt, nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before>
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting
when we meet again!
Excerpted from ‘Death is Nothing at All’,
Henry Scott Holland, Professor of Divinity, Oxford
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Debbie Illi 1952 2021..
mccall gardens funeral and cremation service
Death notice for the town of: Victoria, Province: Colombie britanique