It’s with great sadness that the family of Debbie Sugiyama announces her peaceful passing on November 18, 2016 at the age of 66 years. Debbie passed away after a long battle with cancer and related complications.
She is survived by her best friend and loving husband of 44 years, Shin–semicolon– daughter Jeni (Eric) Pearson and grandson Luke–semicolon– son Josh (Lesley) Sugiyama and grandchildren, Blake, Fiona–semicolon– brother Greg (Brenda Henley) Anderson and their sons, Scott, Mark–semicolon– sister-in-law Cyndi Eyjolfsson–semicolon– nephews, Kyle and Brett Anderson–semicolon– and family overseas in Hokkaido, Japan.
Debbie was predeceased by her father Henry Auby Anderson–semicolon– mother Lila Anderson–semicolon– and brother Kevin Anderson.
Debbie was born and raised in Calgary, moving to Japan in 1969 where she met her husband and worked as an ESL instructor at Aoyama Women’s Junior College in Tokyo, Japan. They moved to Canada in 1977 and raised their children in Edmonton, where Debbie had a long career with Edmonton Public Schools and had taught ESL classes at Grant MacEwan College and the University of Alberta. A loving wife, devoted mom, proud grandma and caring friend, Debbie was an incredibly strong and selfless woman who was the rock of her family. Her strength and caring will live on in her husband and children. Debbie will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Chu and the staff at the Cross Cancer Institute, and dedicated doctors and nurses in the ICU at the University of Alberta Hospital for providing their support and care.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada at 804-2 Lansing Square, Toronto, ON, M2J 4P8, www.lls.org/canada.
A Celebration of Debbie’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2016 at Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, 10011-114 Street NW, Edmonton.
Mimi Hui says
Dear Mr. Sugiyama and Family:
My name is Mimi Hui and I work with Debbie at the English Language School (formerly, English Language Program), Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta.
Debbie joined our team in August 2000. For years, Debbie’s Academic Writing course was the most popular course in the English Language School. Debbie was an amazing teacher and colleague. She was always cheerful and always available to help her students. Debbie’s passion in teaching inspired many of us of our role and responsibility to our students. She is missed by many at the University of Alberta.
I knew Debbie had fought a great fight. As we mourn the loss of a wonderful colleague, we are grateful that we met Debbie. With my deepest sympathy, God Bless.
Denise Canning says
Shin, Jeni, Josh and families
I was so very deeply saddened to hear of Debbie’s passing. I worked with Debbie for many years and loved her dearly. Her passion and love for teaching was inspiring and contagious. She changed the lives of many students who had the privilege of being her student. Debbie was a passionate and dedicated teacher but her true love was for her family. She spoke of Jeni and Josh often and her grandchildren were the love of her life. As I walk through the school this week, I feel her presence around every corner. Hold your memories close to your heart and may they give you all the strength to get through the difficult days ahead. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Denise Canning