Obituary of Debbie Iskierski

It is with saddened hearts that we share the passing of Debbie Iskierski on December 31, 2023. Debbie was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 16, 1954.

Debbie is survived by her husband Henry; sons Nicholas (Julie) and Bobby and daughters Jennifer (Alan) and Monika; granddaughter Penelope; brother Dennis; brother-in-law Zyg and sisters-in-law Karen and Emily; nephews Dean (Carrie), Mark (Amanda), Daniel (Katherine), Timothy, niece Janina (Kyle) and grand-nephew Ian. Debbie was predeceased by her parents Lucy and Stanley, sister Sandra and sister-in-law Janice.

Debbie will be fondly remembered for her caring and crafty nature. She had a deep love for the natural world including gardening, animals, and summers at the beach. Her enthusiasm for pets, puzzles and reading came second only to her devotion to her family. A life-long animal lover, Debbie had many pets that she cared for throughout her life including her dog Macy, her turtle Frankie, her cockatiels, and fish. She also enjoyed birdwatching and admiring the wildlife at the beach, the lake, and her daughter’s forested yard in Charleswood.

From waterside, to forests, to mountains, Debbie felt most at peace with a warm cup of coffee in the morning surrounded by the beauty and calmness of the outdoors. She took great pride in her gardens and spent countless hours nurturing her plants from seed each year. With her ‘green thumb’ she had a remedy for every ailing plant and over the years cared for various house plants gladly sharing her knowledge with fellow plant lovers.

A collector of many things, Debbie inherited her coin collection from her father Stan and continued to add items including new loonies this winter. She also enjoyed collecting movies, rocks, stones and gems, and compiling comforting recipes she could enjoy with company. Debbie was very organized and an extensive list maker with the most impeccable handwriting. Over the years she became a ferocious reader and enjoyed journaling. A crochet master, Debbie perfected the artform and found it therapeutic. She was able to create custom pieces and design one-of-a-kind treasures for her loved ones.

A fabulous cook and baker, Debbie instantly mastered and improved upon any recipe. Flipping through recipe books was her guilty pleasure and she had a wide depth of knowledge and expertise that she passed down to her children who, because of their mom, are also passionate about cooking. Debbie’s children were incredibly lucky to have a talented mom with a love for crafting and cooking. They benefited from her imaginative touch and keenness for creating.

Her passion for cooking led to a career in the food industry where she combined her love for people and for food all the while sharing her artistry and passion with Winnipeg and the world. Debbie had a recipe for every occasion and her home cooking was heart warming. She continued to pass on recipes through the generations and kept the traditional recipes alive. Each recipe told a story as a snapshot of a point in time and always with the imperative special ingredient: LOVE.

Debbie was always a person’s biggest cheerleader and would encourage those she loved. She touched so many people with her positivity, wit, sense of humour, and ability to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. She will be dearly missed, and her spirit will live on through all of the people she has touched.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Cancer Care Manitoba.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Leaf in Assiniboine Park, 145 Leaf Way, Second Floor, on Sunday January 14, 2024 at 1:30 pm for close friends and family.