Memories & Celebrations: Obituary 

Debbie Martin (Debra Mae Koval)

December 16, 1956 - April 5, 2023

Debra Mae Martin (Debbie Koval) died on April 5, 2023 with her son Jim, daughter Teri-Lyn and her two sisters surrounding her, after a sudden and unexpected illness that left her unconscious. Debbie was a devoted and loving mother to her two beautiful children, Teri-Lyn and Jimmy, who tenderly held vigil by their mother’s bedside until she died. Along with Teri- Lyn and Jimmy, she will be forever cherished by her mother Rose Koval; her grandchildren Hailey, Jakson, and Avalyn; her brother Richard (Tee), sister Deanna, brother Michael, sister Marilyn (Larry) and her many nieces and nephews and others in the Koval and Martin families. She will also be deeply missed by her many cousins and friends, including her besties Sandy and Donica. She was predeceased by her father Donald Koval and the father of her children, Rick Martin. 

Debbie was born December 16, 1956 in Pickle Crow, Ontario, the second child of Donald “Donnie” Koval and Elizabeth “Rose” Koval. She graduated from Selkirk High School in Thunder Bay. In high school, she had many interests and was referred to as “Little Deb’’ because she was only five feet tall. Her height did not stop her from playing softball, volleyball and basketball with great enthusiasm and success. In summers and after graduation, she worked hard for Koval Brothers Ltd., loading freight and delivering shipments around Pickle Lake. During her life she also worked at the Pickle Lake post office, CIBC, Crolancia Public School as a secretary, and Northern store as a grocery clerk. Debbie had a quiet and gentle way of being present with others reminiscent of her father Donnie. 

Debbie married Ricky Martin in 1977, and in January, 1978, they welcomed their first child, Teri-Lyn. In July 1982 they welcomed their beautiful son Jim. 

In the summer of 1987 Debbie was diagnosed with a tumor in her brainstem after a sudden and severe headache. Despite the very grim initial prognosis, Debbie persevered with shunt placement, many appointments in far places, tests and biopsies along with eventual intense radiation to her head. She survived to witness the growth of her children into adulthood. She received much support especially from her mother Rose and Auntie Bunny and Uncle Ted in Thunder Bay (while undergoing treatment), from her (now) late Sister-in-law Bernice and from Al and Marj Martin, her in-laws at the time. Through it all she remained positive and curious and while in the hospital, she learned how to knit, creating sweaters for each of her nieces and nephews. Later she took up other crafts including ceramics and felting and then resumed work, ever changed neurologically by the tumour and the treatment but so glad to be alive to be a part of her children’s lives especially. 

After living in Pickle Lake for most of her life, Debbie moved to Kelowna in 2004 to be with her son Jim and daughter Teri-Lyn, and her granddaughter Hailey. Her grandson Jakson was born to Teri-Lyn in 2012, who became an endless source of joy and delight. Debbie cared for Jakson with great presence and love, creating an unbreakable bond with him through the years she helped raise him. In 2020, Debbie’s youngest granddaughter, Avalyn, was born to Jim (and her mother Amy), adding even more joy to Debbie’s life. She loved to play go fish and have Ava tease her. Debbie doted on her three beautiful grandchildren whenever she got the chance. 

One of Debbie’s enduring legacies is the grace and peace she exuded despite some of the effects from her tumor and treatment, which meant some things took longer to do, she had some challenges with her balance, things one normally takes for granted. She was not one to complain or retreat from this challenge. Instead, she cherished each day, loved her family, and enjoyed everything that she remained capable of doing including playing a sharp game of crib, playing many word games with her nieces and nephews and especially engaging fully in all of her creative pursuits. Debbie loved life and treated each day and each person she saw as expressions of the beauty and opportunity for joy that she had learned to see in everything. 

She continued her crafting when she moved to Mountainview Village in 2006. With the help of her favourite staff member, Sue, she baked, made dish scrubbies, bread and butter pickles (growing the cucumbers in her own garden), and peanut butter cups and was part of many craft shows. 

In 2019 she was seen in the emergency department, during which time her son Jim, helping her fill out paperwork, asked her whether she would like to donate her organs in the event of her death. Debbie’s immediate reply was “sure”. 
In 2021, Debbie had an unexpected stroke in an (unrelated to her tumour) area of her brainstem (pons), leaving her with significant deficits on her left side, which required eventually that she move from her beloved Mountainview home to Three Links Manor, a Long Term care facility, all with the devoted attentiveness of her children. 

In December 2022 Debbie was surprised for her 66th birthday by a visit from her mother Rose and brother Michael. While Deanna played the Ukulele over a Zoom, family all gathered from far and wide to sing Happy Birthday for her “clickety click” milestone. 

In March 2023, Debbie enjoyed a much anticipated visit from her sister Deanna. There were many days of visiting and fun, staying at her son Jim’s and playing with her granddaughter Ava. Mere hours after returning to her room at Three Links, Debbie suddenly felt unwell and became unconscious after sustaining a brainstem bleed. Her last moments with Deanna, Jim and Ava included the full enjoyment of a triple gelato at an Italian restaurant. In the hours that followed in the Kelowna ICU on a ventilator, her wishes suddenly became front and center as it was clear she would not survive such a catastrophic medical event and just as suddenly, the transplant teams were mobilizing, and three (we imagine) grateful people were being notified of the precious gifting of lungs and kidneys from Debbie. 

Debbie’s family wishes to extend deep thanks to Dr. Sarbit for being such a sensitive and supportive family doctor over all her years in Kelowna, to Arden and David who helped Debbie with errands and transportation to doctor’s appointments, to the staff at Mountainview for creating a fun environment in which Debbie thrived and to the staff at Three Links Manor for accommodating Debbie’s transition into Long Term Care. We also thank Erika for supporting Debbie through the ABI program with IHA, Erika and Danielle from the Team at Stride who continued to support Debbie’s physiotherapy goals and Michelle who was assisting Debbie with various healing modalities. A huge thank you also to the staff in the ICU at KGH for creating such a beautiful and comforting environment for Debbie and her family during her last days. A final and deeply heartfelt thanks is extended to Marilynne Fine of Kelowna, who threw her arms and heart and home open wide to all of us with such love and care. 

For those interested in contributing to a cause in Debbie’s memory, the Kelowna Cycling Coalition www.kelownacycling.org will gratefully receive a donation via etransfer at [email protected] or on their website homepage with the donation link. If it is possible to send an email to [email protected] indicating to them that you have made a donation in Debbie’s memory that would be an added bonus, earmarking the donation to “CWAK” (Cycling with Age Kelowna) even better. Alternatively you could contribute to the Breakfast or Sports Program at Crolancia Public School in Pickle Lake by sending a cheque to: Crolancia Public School, 1 Trudel St., Box 310, Pickle Lake, Ontario, POV 3A0 attention Principal, Ms. Kayla Blakney earmarking either of these programs. Tax receipts can be requested. 

A Celebration of Debbie’s life will be held at the Pickle Lake Community Centre on Saturday, May 13th at 2 pm. We are hoping to livestream this if we can get the technology together. If wishing the link, please send an email to: [email protected] (Marilyn Koval).