Obituary of Deborah Jean Dowling

The family of Deborah “Debbie” Jean Dowling sadly announces that she passed away on November 15, 2024, at the Saint John Regional Hospital, at the age of 75. She was born on November 18, 1948 to Grey and Jean (Mapplebeck) MacFarlane in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Growing up in Saint John, Debbie enjoyed camping and boating on the St. John River at the family cottage at Oak Point. Many wonderful memories were made there with her brother Albert, sister Heather, and her mom and dad.

After graduating from Simonds High School, she attended the University of New Brunswick where she obtained a Nursing Degree in 1970. Following that, she worked with the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON). Returning to UNB, Debbie obtained a B.Ed. in 1972 and taught biology and physiology at Oromocto High School for 5 years.

In 1977, she went to Fremont, California, with her husband Paul and family for Teacher Exchange year. Paul was the first teacher to go on exchange from NB. They had a wonderful year, making lasting friendships while enjoying the sunshine and the palm trees. Upon returning to NB, Debbie helped set up the Exchange Teachers Organization and became its Founding President.

Wanting to spend more time with her young family, Debbie returned to nursing, working on the surgical units at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital. In 1984, she moved to the Oromocto Public Hospital to set up its programs in Employee Health and Infection Control. In 1995, she was appointed Regional Manager of Infection Prevention & Control for the Region 3 Hospital Corporation.

Debbie always enjoyed the outdoors and from an early age could be found on a bicycle. Going anywhere on it was always an adventure! She particularly enjoyed canoeing with her dad at the cottage at Oak Point. Horseback riding, skiing, and RV’ing with her family – all had wonderful memories. In recent years she could be found riding the bicycle trails with the Folks on Spokes (FOS) Bicycle Club or paddling her kayak on a beautiful sunny day on the river.

Debbie’s greatest joy was her family. She loved them greatly and found immense joy in them. They have been the greatest, and most appreciated, gifts from God and are forever in her heart.

She will be greatly missed by her loving husband, Paul; son, Sean Dowling (Amber); daughter Tara Cleghorn (Jason); grandsons, Jaron and James Cleghorn; sister, Heather MacFarlane; brother, Albert MacFarlane (Marcia); dear friend, Althea Arsenault, and special granddaughter, Mackenzie Sharkey. Debbie was predeceased by her parents and an infant brother, David.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and other staff at the Saint John Regional Hospital for the exceptional care they gave to Debbie.

A visitation will be held at the Oromocto Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 2:00 – 4:00pm and 6:00 – 8:00pm. A Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Smythe Street Church in Fredericton beginning at 11:00am with Pastor Heidi Billington officiating. A reception will be held in the church hall following the service. For those not able to attend, this service will be livestreamed at https://ssc.church/dowling or https://www.youtube.com/@ssc.church/streams.

For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Prison Christian Ministries for the care of street children in Kenya or a charity of the donor’s choice.