Debra Roanne (Sparrow) O'Connell

In Loving Memory of  Deb O'Connell, (nee Sparrow) of Lacombe, Alberta.  

Born May 14, 1951, in St. Thomas Ontario, Died May 16, 2025 in Red Deer Alberta.  

Memorial Service on Saturday June 7, 2025 4:30 pm at St. Andrews United Church,  5226-51 Ave., Lacombe, Alberta.

Obituary in her own words:

This is the story of  Deb’s life, told in her  own words. This isn’t just a story about events and dates—it’s about the heart behind them.

“I was born in St. Thomas, just outside of London, Ontario. We moved to Baden in 1957, and from that moment on, I considered Baden to be my hometown. It was a peaceful, quiet place to grow up, though neither particularly happy nor sad. We spent our summers at the cottage, a place where we could escape the busy world. My dad, a road builder, was always busy during this time.

My name, Deborah, was inspired by actress Debra Carr. Sparrow was my maiden name. I remember being called Debbie as a child, but as I grew older, I decided it was too “childish” and went by Deb.

One of my fondest childhood memories was my best friend, Sherry, who lived at the local castle. Castle Kilbride, a replica of a Scottish castle, originally was the home of James Livingston, a member of the Canadian parliament and flax mill owner. Sherry had an older brother and sister, and together we had a lot of fun, playing with their dogs and horses that their family bred. Our summers were spent in Port Elgin, running around the beach and playing in the sand. Though life pulled us apart as we got older and married, the memories of those carefree days with Sherry are forever with me.

I’m the youngest of three siblings, with my sister Madeline born in 1947 and my brother Sam born in 1949. We’re all two years apart, and though we spent a lot of time together growing up, there were many periods when we weren’t in close contact. Despite the gaps, I’ve always cherished the bond we shared, especially with Madeline, my best friend.

My mother had two brothers, one of who, David, died in World War II. We only knew him through stories and photographs. My uncle Eldon and aunt Barb lived in Ottawa. My Mom would tease Barb about having another baby—they had 6 children. Sadly, their youngest passed away tragically from a brain tumor at the age of five.

My relationship with my grandparents was distant. My mother was adopted into a family that wasn’t particularly warm, and my father's parents were farmers who lived through the hardships of the Depression. I didn’t know my father’s side very well, I was told his father was not a great man.

Summer has always been my favorite season. There's something about the warmth, the T-shirts, and the shorts that just felt comfortable and right. In contrast, the long walks to school in the bitter Canadian winters were something I’ll never forget. I never quite understood why I couldn’t keep the weight off with all the walking, but those cold, snowy days taught me resilience.

I married Greg in 1971. Sadly, Greg chose to move on from our family on Christmas Eve in 1981, leaving me to raise our sons, Neil who was 6 and Adam who was 4 at the time. Neil struggled with Asperger's Syndrome throughout his life, tragically passing away at age 45. My heart will forever carry the memory of him and his challenges.

In 1996, I married Thomas Robin O’Connell, and we shared a good life together until his untimely passing in 2003 due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Tom’s childhood was difficult, and his grandparents in Brussels were the only family members he was close to. Despite his struggles, Tom brought light and love into our lives.

My first job was at a hospital in Kitchener, Ontario, as a transcriber in the medical records office. I then worked for a temp agency for many years after that, finding work in hospitals, universities, and schools throughout Kitchener. In 2007, I moved to Alberta to work with my sister Madeline at a group home in Red Deer. Unfortunately, in 2012, I broke my ankle and was unable to work again.

Throughout my life, I had the blessing of traveling coast to coast in Canada. Greg and I visited the East Coast, including Newfoundland—rich in my Irish and Scottish heritage—became my favorite place. When I was 17, I flew to Vancouver as part of the Girl Guides. Seeing the West Coast was unforgettable. Though I never made it to Ireland, I’ve always dreamed of standing on that soil and connecting more deeply with my roots.

One of the brightest parts of family life was our purebred dachshund dog. He had a long name with Hercules in the middle, but he was most commonly known as Herky. He was a mischievous and lovable little dog, and he brought laughter and happiness to our home when the boys were young.

Throughout my life, I’ve found a love for reading and storytelling. “Gone with the Wind” became my all-time favorite book, and I’m proud to own the first edition of "Charlotte's Web." But beyond the books, my greatest joy came from raising my children. I was deeply involved in volunteer work, sometimes putting in 40 hours a week. I received several volunteer awards over the years, and my kids benefited from my efforts through opportunities like summer camps and special events.

Dancing was another passion of mine—especially the two-step, my favourite and I was pretty darn good at it too. Country music, especially Alan Jackson, was my favorite, and dancing with friends always made me feel free.

Looking back, I’m proud of the life I lived. My greatest achievement will always be my sons—Neil and Adam. And through everything, I learned an important life lesson: What goes around, comes around.

My life has been a tapestry of ups and downs, but through it all, I’ve learned that love, family, and kindness are what truly matter. And that’s the legacy I hope to leave.

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