Obituary of Deborah Lynn Wright-Nantel

WRIGHT-NANTEL: Deborah (Debbie) Wright-Nantel (née Wright) passed away peacefully on Monday, January 1, 2018 at the Assiniboine Centre in Brandon, following a lengthy battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her husband, Lee Nantel; parents Phyllis and Garfield Wright; and brother-in-law, Terry Carels. Debbie is survived by her sister Louise Carels (niece Carmen (David) and great-niece, Danika) and nephews Stephen (Kate) and Brett (Shari); brother Bill (Syndy) (niece Natalie and nephew Graham); brother Doug; and sister Lesa (Ben) Guy (nephews Devon and Edward). She also leaves behind countless cousins, friends, and colleagues. Debbie was born on May 12, 1951 in Deloraine Hospital, and she lived most of her life in southwestern Manitoba. Her formative years were spent on the family farm northwest of Waskada, where she hilled many a potato plant, developed a curiosity about people and the world, and learned how to do so-called "women's work," including the care of her four younger siblings. As a result, she developed from an early age a desire for independence and for figuring out how to get things done—all while tailoring her own clothing and making a mean pot of turkey chili. Debbie's uncanny ability to solve problems and get things done came in no small part from being born with achondroplasia, a genetic condition that left her short in stature. While having "dwarfism" often meant having to deal with prejudice and mean-spiritedness, it also engendered in her a lifetime of resilience and creative problem-solving, and a drive to understand and actively assist those of us who, in her words, are "different and not average." She, more than most people, knew what it meant to be different, and how that difference touches every aspect of life—from doing laundry and grocery shopping to driving a car and getting a job. She tackled every problem with resolve, optimism, and patience, and gave of herself freely so that many could enjoy opportunities they otherwise would not have had. Debbie attended grade 1 in the one-room Verona School schoolhouse, northwest of Waskada, and grades 2–12 at Waskada Collegiate Institute. She involved herself in arts and crafts whenever farm life allowed, including regular 4H classes. Debbie went on to earn, in 1974, a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Brandon University; at a time when it was still relatively rare for rural women to do so. That university learning was the basis of her four-decade career in helping others, including the elderly, those in palliative care, abused women, and individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental illnesses. Most notably, Debbie was on the "front lines" of support in helping individuals transition to community living when the Brandon Mental Health Centre closed in 1998. She enriched hundreds of lives by organizing and executing various programs, navigating government bureaucracy, and knowing when and where to do the things that mattered most—always with a smile and a kind word, sometimes with humour, and often with an empathetic tear. Debbie's love of crafts led to her meeting, in 1978, her life-partner Lee Nantel, at a ceramics class in Brandon. They would eventually travel across Canada and live in numerous communities, including Fort St. John, BC and Pickle Lake, ON. They returned to Brandon in 1984, where they married (in 1993), built rewarding careers with the Brandon Regional Health Authority, and lived the rest of their lives. Debbie's life changed in 2002, when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She continued to work on behalf of others, right until her first chemotherapy treatment; she then allowed herself to rest and receive back much of the love she'd previously given others. In remission, she resumed her career—and paused it again, when cancer returned—and continued to work until her retirement from the BRHA in 2013. Even after losing her husband Lee in 2012, retiring from the work world, and receiving her third (and final) cancer diagnosis, she continued to volunteer for various charities in the Brandon area (including the Brandon Humane Society and the Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner) by organizing rummage sales, camping trips, craft programs, and hot-dog cookouts. She also set aside time for herself and her simple pleasures: a non-spicy Bloody Caesar, trips to Pier 1 Imports, sales at Michaels, scrapbooking, an extra cup of coffee (two sugars, no milk), and the TV shows Oprah and Storage Wars. Her lifelong approach to helping others was formally recognized in 2008, when Brandon University honoured her with a Distinguished Alumni Community Service Award. In her acceptance speech, Debbie said that "We should all be custodians of our community, and whether it be through volunteering, serving on a committee or board, or assisting an elderly neighbour, giving back not only enhances the quality of life for our community but also enhances our own quality of life." The Wright family thanks the nurses at AHC's palliative care ward—especially Sher, Roxy, Cindy, and Irene—for making Debbie's final days comfortable. We also thank the staff at Rotary Villas at Crocus Gardens and Cynthia at Camelot Personal Care for helping Debbie live her final months with the independence and dignity that were the hallmarks of her life. A Memorial Service was held at the Central United Church Auditorium on Saturday, January 20, 2018 with a private interment to follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Debbie's name to the Brandon Humane Society, 2200 17th Street East, Brandon, MB R7A 7M6; the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities, Room 140, 340 - 9th Street, Brandon, MB, R7A 6C2; CancerCare Manitoba 1160 - 675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9), or the charity of one's choice.