Obituary for Gladys Debungee
Gladys Debungee (nee Handorgan), Netaawikamigook, was born on February 26, 1939, at Lake of the Woods Ontario, Treaty 3. Gladys was a proud member of Anishinaabeg of Naongashing (Big Island First Nation), Treaty 3, and was Moose Clan. She spent much of her remaining years in Manitou Rapids First Nations, Ontario, where she considered home. She passed away peacefully at Emo Hospital on January 29, 2022, at the age of 82.
She was predeceased by her parents William Handorgan, Clara Handorgan (nee Morrison), and her children Brian Debungee, Elvis Debungie, Zeke (Peter Jr.) Debungee, Charles Debungee, and Thomas Debungee. She was also predeceased by her grandson Desmond Debungee and her beloved best friend Perry Archie.
She is survived by her son Wes Debungee, sister Rose Tuesday (nee Handorgan), sister Margaret Yerxa (nee Handorgan), brother Robert Handorgan (Joanne Cobiness), brother Jim Spruce (Virginia Biggeorge), and sister Betty Spruce. She is also survived by numerous granddaughters, grandsons, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She also leaves behind very good friends and community members.
Gladys loved helping her community by helping with the revival of the Anishinaabe language and traditions. She travelled with elders of Manitou Rapids First Nation to various events which she really enjoyed. She loved visiting with her family and especially her dear friends including Elizabeth Brown of Manitou Rapids. She enjoyed playing BINGO and playing cards. She spent many of her younger years working hard in various jobs such as house keeping at tourist camps in Lake of the Woods. She was a cook for numerous years at Cedar Island Resort. Her family members considered her to be one of the best cooks around. In her younger years she worked with her father in Northern Minnesota as a pulp cutter. Gladys was a jingle dress dancer and loved to travel to Pow-Wows all over Turtle Island. She enjoyed watching her Son Wes Debungee and the Night Hawk Band. She would travel with the band and support them while they performed. She had a great love for country western music. Gladys shared many laughs and stories with the people she would come across. She was adored by many people as she was always sharing laughs and her sense of humour to cheer people up. She showed unconditional love to many, and she was cherished by many.
A wake has been scheduled for Wednesday February 2, 2022, at the Gymnasium in Manitou Rapids First Nation Ontario. The family would like to invite extended relatives, family, and community for the wake from 5:00pm on. A traditional service will be officiated by George Boshkaykin of Seine River First Nation Ontario, on Thursday February 3, 2022, at the Gymnasium in Manitou Rapids First Nation Ontario. The traditional service will begin at 10am on that Thursday. Flowers can be shared at the wake and funeral, and donations can be sent to her son Wes Debungee.
Pallbearers will be Adrian Indian, Brian Kabatay, James Eastman, Pat Handorgan, Kevin Yerxa, and Rob Desjarlais. The honorary pallbearers will be Andrea Debungee, Charlie Debungee, Sheena Debungee, Nathan Debungee, Brian Debungee, Sharma Debungee, River Nelson, Lindsay Mainville and Sido Whitehorse.
“We will always love you and all the gifts that you have given us” Love Debungee and Handorgan Family.
She was predeceased by her parents William Handorgan, Clara Handorgan (nee Morrison), and her children Brian Debungee, Elvis Debungie, Zeke (Peter Jr.) Debungee, Charles Debungee, and Thomas Debungee. She was also predeceased by her grandson Desmond Debungee and her beloved best friend Perry Archie.
She is survived by her son Wes Debungee, sister Rose Tuesday (nee Handorgan), sister Margaret Yerxa (nee Handorgan), brother Robert Handorgan (Joanne Cobiness), brother Jim Spruce (Virginia Biggeorge), and sister Betty Spruce. She is also survived by numerous granddaughters, grandsons, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She also leaves behind very good friends and community members.
Gladys loved helping her community by helping with the revival of the Anishinaabe language and traditions. She travelled with elders of Manitou Rapids First Nation to various events which she really enjoyed. She loved visiting with her family and especially her dear friends including Elizabeth Brown of Manitou Rapids. She enjoyed playing BINGO and playing cards. She spent many of her younger years working hard in various jobs such as house keeping at tourist camps in Lake of the Woods. She was a cook for numerous years at Cedar Island Resort. Her family members considered her to be one of the best cooks around. In her younger years she worked with her father in Northern Minnesota as a pulp cutter. Gladys was a jingle dress dancer and loved to travel to Pow-Wows all over Turtle Island. She enjoyed watching her Son Wes Debungee and the Night Hawk Band. She would travel with the band and support them while they performed. She had a great love for country western music. Gladys shared many laughs and stories with the people she would come across. She was adored by many people as she was always sharing laughs and her sense of humour to cheer people up. She showed unconditional love to many, and she was cherished by many.
A wake has been scheduled for Wednesday February 2, 2022, at the Gymnasium in Manitou Rapids First Nation Ontario. The family would like to invite extended relatives, family, and community for the wake from 5:00pm on. A traditional service will be officiated by George Boshkaykin of Seine River First Nation Ontario, on Thursday February 3, 2022, at the Gymnasium in Manitou Rapids First Nation Ontario. The traditional service will begin at 10am on that Thursday. Flowers can be shared at the wake and funeral, and donations can be sent to her son Wes Debungee.
Pallbearers will be Adrian Indian, Brian Kabatay, James Eastman, Pat Handorgan, Kevin Yerxa, and Rob Desjarlais. The honorary pallbearers will be Andrea Debungee, Charlie Debungee, Sheena Debungee, Nathan Debungee, Brian Debungee, Sharma Debungee, River Nelson, Lindsay Mainville and Sido Whitehorse.
“We will always love you and all the gifts that you have given us” Love Debungee and Handorgan Family.