Honouring the Life and Final Wishes of Deborah Norris

On May 12, 2025, we said goodbye to Deborah Norris—our mother, grandmother, friend, and fierce advocate—who unexpectedly passed away at the age of 66. Deborah was a beacon of compassion, justice, and love. She was a tireless voice in HIV activism, education, and research, dedicating her life to uplifting others, especially the most marginalized. Her legacy stretches far and wide, carried forward in the lives she touched, the movements she shaped, and the people she loved.

Deborah leaves behind her two beloved children, Thoko and Tendayi, and her cherished grandson, Kairo. To her, family was everything. If you ever met Deborah, you immediately knew the depth of her love for her children—unwavering, unconditional, and enduring. She raised them with warmth, strength, and profound resilience in the face of life’s many challenges.

Deborah's final wish was for her ashes to be scattered by her children in four sacred places that held deep meaning for her: Tofino, Lake Louise, Angel Mountain, and Zimbabwe. It was her hope that this act would bring closure, peace, and spiritual continuity—a return to the ancestors.

We are launching this GoFundMe to help make that wish a reality.

The funds raised will support:

•Funeral and cremation expenses (anything not covered by government benefits)

•Accommodations and transportation to be in Edmonton to say goodbye to her body and spirit

•Food and gathering costs for a celebration of life

•Trauma and grief counselling, especially for Tendayi who does not currently have access to extended health benefits

•contribution to the travel fund to go to each of the four locations to spread her ashes

Deborah spent most of her life in economic hardship. Despite this, she gave all she had—time, energy, love—to others, never hesitating to help someone in need. What she feared most was leaving her children without the means to navigate her passing. Thoko and Tendayi are stable but do not have the safety net many rely on after a parent’s passing. They are facing this tender and emotional journey with limited support and inheritance, doing their best to honour their mother’s wishes with the love and care she gave so freely.

Many have asked, “What can we do to help?” If Deborah could whisper the answer, she would gently ask for support in lifting the financial burden from her children so they can grieve, honour, and remember her without added hardship.

We ask only that you give what you can. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps carry Deborah’s spirit home—across oceans and mountains, toward peace and remembrance. Your support is not only a gift to her children, but also a tribute to the life of a woman who believed deeply in the power of community, justice, and love.

Thank you for helping us honour Deborah in the way she so richly deserves.

With gratitude,
Thoko & Tendayi