The Joe Shuster Awards lost a true friend & advocate this week when Debra Jane Shelly passed.

Deb was the light & partner of our Co-Founder & Associate Director, Kevin Boyd.

We will post more personal reflections on Deb at a later time.  We wanted to post this notice from her family.

Everyone involved with the JSA’s wish to send our heartfelt condolences & strength to Kevin Boyd and to The Shelly family during this time.

Debra Jane Shelly (April 23, 1974-January 25, 2014)

Our precious Debra passed peacefully in her sleep on Saturday afternoon from an epileptic seizure. Debbie will be forever remembered as a genuine and kind soul with unparalleled wit and a spectacular smile. DJ was the adored daughter of Scott and Susan Shelly of Oakville, ON.  Debra was the loving partner of Kevin A. Boyd. She was the world’s most cherished older sister to Karrie Shelly Singer (Dave), Cristie Shelly Schultz (Mark) and Greg Shelly (Laura Waters). Debbie was a doting aunt to Caleb, Noah, Liam, Ana, Sidney, Kaitlyn, Michael and Lauren. We will miss her dearly.

Please join us for a celebration of Deb’s beautiful life.  A visitation will be held on Thursday, January 30 at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Visitation Centre (375 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto) from 6-9pm. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 31 at Manor Road United Church (240 Manor Rd. E, Toronto) at 11am.  All are welcome. We look forward to sharing stories, laughter and love for our sweet Debra at the reception to be held immediately following the funeral service at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Visitation Centre.

Debbie was a ray of light in all of our lives- please feel free to come dressed in your most cheerful colours in tribute to our sunny girl. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to Epilepsy Toronto in Debbie’s honour at:
https://secure2.unxvision.com/EPT/eDonation/ec_index.asp?eCelebration_Form_ID=3&isAdmin=1