Deborah Hickman
1950-2022
Deborah Hickman passed away peacefully at Fishermens’ Memorial
Hospital in Lunenburg on May 26, 2022. Her husband Christopher Heide
was at her bedside as family and friends had been accompanying her
there for several days.
Deborah May Hickman was born in Ottawa on December 19, 1950, the
second daughter to Richard and Margaret Hickman. She grew up there
with her two sisters and brother in a tight knit, loving family. She
described her young self as a “tomboy,” loving vigorous
outdoor fun. This matured into a passion for being in nature:
camping, hiking, skiing, canoeing, gardening and helping her father
make maple syrup. In high school, her deep love for literature began
to bloom and led to a lifelong hobby of writing stories for herself
and her family.
In 1974, Deborah and Chris moved to Nova Scotia, their home ever
since. In 1975 Deborah enrolled in the Nova Scotia College of Art
& Design, graduating from there in 1978 with a BFA and a
speciality as a tapestry weaver. Throughout her life she created many
tapestries featured in exhibits and sold at home and abroad. This
unusual talent led to her employment in 1980 as Manager of a
“Weave Shop” in the small Arctic hamlet of Pangnirtung on
Baffin Island. That shop, now known as Uqqurmiut Centre for Arts and
Crafts, includes a Craft Gallery, Print Shop and a world renowned
Tapestry Studio. Deborah’s role in the development of Inuit
tapestries was huge! Working with the extremely talented Inuit
weavers, Deborah assembled and promoted high-profile shows of their
work across Canada, in the USA and in Europe. Pangnirtung became a
“second home” for Chris and Deborah, living there for
several years and visiting frequently. It was a dream come true for
Deborah who was fascinated with life in the North even as a
child.
At home in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Deborah was an activist artist,
bringing art workshops to schools around the province and encouraging
creativity locally in Lunenburg County. Her crowning achievement here
was the central part she played in launching the Mahone Bay Centre,
becoming the first President of the inaugural Board of Directors.
Deborah was a devoted mother to her children Dylan and Leigh and a
steadfast support to Chris, her partner for fifty years. She is
survived by all three along with her very dear mother Margaret Hickman
and siblings Lynda, Pam and David. She had a wide circle of friends
who admired her gentle manner, her kind, loving approach to all
things, her delicious sense of humour and her vibrant artistic
talents. She combined a strong world view with an appreciation of
simple things such as collecting rocks on the beach, singing to her
cat or walking in the woods. She leaves a space in the hearts of all
who knew her but it is a space she would wish to gradually be filled
again with joy.
Thanks go to Deborah’s wonderful family doctor, Dr. Cecilia
Newton and to all those at Lunenburg Family Health, the staff of
Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital, especially those in the Emergency
Ward, and to the Palliative Care Team.
Deborah did not wish a funeral but she did want family and friends to
be able to gather in private celebrations of life both in Ottawa and
in the Mahone Bay area. These will take place over the summer.
Donations in Deborah’s memory can be made to causes she felt
passionately for: the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia or
the UNHCR.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Mahone Funeral Home, P.O. Box
200, 32 Parish St., Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0 (902-624-8241). Online
condolences may be sent to the family by visiting:
www.mahonefuneral.ca
Please be advised, the office of Mahone Funeral Home is not able to
receive memorial donation funds at this time. Please inform the
Family of your memorial contribution through our website. Your
memorial donation payment may then be sent directly to a requested
charity or one of your choice.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia
Park Lane Mall, Level 3
P.O. Box 245, 5657 Spring Garden Road
Halifax, NS B3J 3R4
Telephone: 902-423-7530
Toll free: 1-800-423-4432
Fax: 902-492-1464
UNHCR Canada
2 St. Clair Avenue W.
Suite 802
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1L5
Email: donorcare@unhcr.ca
Toll Free: 1-877-232-0909
MAHONE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE
“Founded in 1883 – Serving the Community for 139 years.”
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Deborah Hickman 19502022..
Death notice for the town of: Mahone-Bay, Province: Nova Scotia