Obituary for Debera Patricia Leonard
Debera Patricia Leonard
January 17, 1959 – April 5, 2023
Following a battle with cancer, Debera passed away at her home in Newmarket alongside her family on April 5, 2023 at the age of 64.
She leaves behind her son Jason Bakker and daughter-in-law Violetta Nadtochyy, step-sister Janice (Neal), half-brother Fred, step-brother Wayne (Denise), step-mother Bernice, niece Shanna, nephews Daniel, Michael and Stephen, many dear friends, as well as her former husband of 31 years Wayne Bakker.
Debera was born in Toronto on January 17, 1959 to the late Fred Leonard and Stacy Marchysen. She grew up in the city and moved to Newmarket at the age of 23 with her former husband to start a greenhouse business together called Trillia Nursery. They grew and sold various flowers, as well as vegetables, and this is where she worked for most of her life.
She was a very loving, understanding, compassionate and creative person who loved cooking for her family and taking care of the many plants that decorated her home. She was also an animal lover, an avid reader, and she enjoyed traveling, riding her bike and doing puzzles. Later in life, she also became passionate about mindfulness and meditation practices, nutrition and earned her personal trainer certification.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 23rd at 1pm at the Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home 157 Main Street South, Newmarket, ON L3Y 3Y9.
If desired, donations in Debera's memory can be made to either Ovarian Cancer Canada or the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada.
January 17, 1959 – April 5, 2023
Following a battle with cancer, Debera passed away at her home in Newmarket alongside her family on April 5, 2023 at the age of 64.
She leaves behind her son Jason Bakker and daughter-in-law Violetta Nadtochyy, step-sister Janice (Neal), half-brother Fred, step-brother Wayne (Denise), step-mother Bernice, niece Shanna, nephews Daniel, Michael and Stephen, many dear friends, as well as her former husband of 31 years Wayne Bakker.
Debera was born in Toronto on January 17, 1959 to the late Fred Leonard and Stacy Marchysen. She grew up in the city and moved to Newmarket at the age of 23 with her former husband to start a greenhouse business together called Trillia Nursery. They grew and sold various flowers, as well as vegetables, and this is where she worked for most of her life.
She was a very loving, understanding, compassionate and creative person who loved cooking for her family and taking care of the many plants that decorated her home. She was also an animal lover, an avid reader, and she enjoyed traveling, riding her bike and doing puzzles. Later in life, she also became passionate about mindfulness and meditation practices, nutrition and earned her personal trainer certification.
Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 23rd at 1pm at the Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home 157 Main Street South, Newmarket, ON L3Y 3Y9.
If desired, donations in Debera's memory can be made to either Ovarian Cancer Canada or the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada.