Deborah (Seward) Whiteway

Deborah Whiteway (née Seward) was born on March 26, 1949, in California and passed away peacefully on November 2, 2025, at Sechelt Hospital. Her final months were eased by the compassionate care team who took the time to know her, and by the devoted presence of her sister and dear friends.

Deborah made her home in Gibsons for the past 35 years, a place she and her husband David chose and lovingly shaped together. David, her partner of more than 50 years, predeceased her only a few months earlier.

Deborah grew up close to the ocean she would always return to. At age eight, she was gifted Taco, her beloved horse and confidante. When Taco was sold four years later, her rebellious spirit surged forward, finding freedom in the horsepower of her cars and motorcycles.

Drawn to counterculture, creativity, and coastline, Deborah’s journeys took her from Orange County to San Francisco, Hawaii, and in her early twenties, to Canada, her lifelong home, with a brief chapter in the UK. She lived in the Maplewood mudflats, Squamish, Lund, and East Vancouver. In 1989, she and David purchased their acreage in Gibsons, where they built a landscaping business, cultivated deep friendships, and created a beautiful oasis reflecting their shared values of beauty and efficiency.

Her adventures stretched far with travels to Morocco and Jamaica, riding Harleys and horses, embracing parties and sobriety. She and her beloved sister Wendy (“Sissy”) shared many lifetimes together, always finding their way back to one another. Sissy remained close in her final days.

Deborah was known for her kindness, quiet wit, and the twinkle in her eye. She had an extraordinary gift for creating spaces of comfort and grace, and a St. Francis-like quality that connected her effortlessly with animals.

She leaves behind her son Ethan and her beloved grandson Orion (“Tutu”); her stepdaughter Jacqui (Brian) and their children Carmen and Mitchell (“Grand Deb”); her sister Wendy (“Sissy”); and Wendy’s sons Sam, Lenny, Marty, and their families (“Tia”).

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff at Sechelt Hospital and at Christensen Village, who cared for Deborah with kindness and dignity. A celebration of Deborah’s life will be announced in the months ahead.

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