Obituary of Debra Jean Burnett

Debbie, excuse me.Debra Jean Burnett, was born Debra Jean Aven, in Lubbock Texas, August 25th, 1957. As a baby, her family moved to California and from there, in 1964, immigrated to Canada, in January, straight to Dawson Creek. Debra was 7 years old and when we moved to Canada. I tried to convince my mom it would be best if we left her behind. That didn't work. Debra always found a way to do things her way and was determined to maintain that right. Very determined. Debra loved rules, boundaries, etc. They don't apply to her of course, but she got a kick out of watching other people struggle with them. When she was around 11, we were living at Mason Creek on the Alaska Hwy. I remember going into the tire room next to the caf. As I entered, there was smoke in the air. Cigarette smoke, and there stood Debra, a pack of smokes in her hand and a cigarette in her mouth. I looked out the window and saw our father coming. She gave me that get me out of this" look. (A look used than more than once.) I told her to hide. There was a stack of tires in the room. She jumped into the middle of them. So..I went ahead and confessed to smoking. Debra was full of life and had a playful side all would experience. On your birthday, you could depend on Debra to either post, text or call you on the phone. Without fail she would sing happy birthday. It always ended with a cha cha cha. I was driving Deb around Calgary, she was very pregnant. As we drove, she spotted a hotdog stand and said she wanted a hot dog. I said fine, I would pick up some for dinner. She said no, I want a hot dog right blanking now. She was not using her inside voice. I always wondered why I didn't cause a multi car pile-up as I crossed 4 lanes of rush hour traffic (without using my mirrors or shoulder checking) to get to the hotdog stand she had spotted. Debra and Robert married on June 22, 1995. Debra strived all her life; she was looking for something, something personal, always just out of reach. In her later years, along with her sister, she explored a path. A path that led her to what she sought. As I spoke to earlier, Debra was determined, and that determination was strong. Debra battled cancer with a pre-determined outcome in her mind. Cancer was not going to take her life. She was going to survive it. She was not concerned with the treatment process or the side affects. To outlive the cancer was what she was going to do. She was very adamant when she spoke of it. For a long time she experienced a level of pain that cannot be measured or fathomed. Yet, still, she was determined to outlast. She handled this illness with an outlook that everything was going to be okay. Be happy. She would not allow a negative word or thought in her presence. She just wanted to be surrounded by happiness and love with positive thoughts and words. Although she battled this disease with an indescribable will, she grew weaker, and as she weakened, the cancer grew stronger. I am not sure how many battles of the will Debbie has engaged in, but I am sure she lost few of them. It is a shame she lost this one. She will surely be missed, and always loved. To those who stand beside cancer victims, God bless you for the pain and sorrow you witness; and want nothing more than to alleviate. Husbands, wives, mothers, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends all suffer this horrible disease. When you pray for the cancer victim, please include these people in your prayers, they are suffering as well. Robert, God bless you for your loss and may He heal our hearts. Memories from Robert Debra and I met in 1995 and it was instant love between us, we pronounced this love for each other and married June 22, 1995. We now had a family of 5 children of varying ages that would bring us joy, love, worry, support and most of all, happiness and pride. Debra loved all special occasions and shared these with her loved ones. Easter was always a hunt for the treats she hid so well and never gave up their location; we would still find these hidden goodies weeks later and in the most unexpected places. Birthdays were another event where one would come home to streamers, fancy birthday cakes and balloons hanging from the ceilings like a bonanza of piata's waiting to be popped and then you got showered with the treats, lotto tickets, money, etc. There was usually a stuffed balloon for every year of your age. Debra's skill at getting these balloons stuffed was uncanny and no one will ever know how she got a ball cap inside a balloon one year. Christmas was always special and the decorating of the tree was her favorite. We would decorate the tree together but when coming home the next day, you walked in to a piece of perfect artwork because the tree was stripped down and redecorated in your absence to make it look perfect. Another special of Debra's was wrapping presents and she would always have a second little gift as part of the bow on all presents. Her last words before retiring on a Christmas Eve were "Happy Birthday Jesus". Debra loved her family and whenever possible would be in the delivery room for the birth of her grandchildren. She had to be the first one to touch the new little person on the head as they exited the womb and shared this moment with pride and love. She would be sad if she missed this special bonding moment. In the last several years, Debra became a very spiritual person and strong believer in the power of positive living and thinking. She accepted the mission in her life to do her part to balance out negative in our world with positive energy. For all who knew or came close to Debra, you would feel that positive presence in your own being and know that you had beentouched by an angel. Service 11:00 am Saturday, February 20, 2016 Bergeron Chapel 10200-17th Street DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada V1G 4C2