Deborah Marie Bowater, RN, 64, died Monday, February 20th, 2017 at her home with her family by her side. She was the much loved wife of Thomas C. Bowater. They had been married for 40 years.
Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Chester Francis Kent and Eloise (Jackvony) Kent of East Providence.
Deborah was a graduate of Queens Hospital Nursing School. She had worked most recently as an RN at Fatima Hospital in their Outpatient Oncology department and previously at Saint Joseph’s hospital as a pediatric nurse. She was a dedicated and compassionate nurse for the past forty-two years.
Besides her husband, she is survived by her son, Thomas K. Bowater and his wife, Sarah of Smithfield, her daughter, Aimee C. Bowater of Smithfield, her two grandchildren: Thomas R. and Kaylee R. Bowater, her siblings: Nancy Kelly of Swansea, MA, Paula Moore of Port Charlotte, FL, Michael Kent of Rumford, Susan Kent of Tiverton and her Mother Eloise Kent of East Providence.
Debbie spent many happy hours cycling with her husband Tom on their tandem bicycle. Together they completed multiple cycling events with the Narragansett Bay Wheelmen, including several century distance rides. They fostered a lifelong love of cycling in both of their children.
Deborah also loved camping in Vermont. Over the years she spent many happy vacations there with her good friends the Vernavas, her children and eventually her grandchildren. Debbie loved taking her grandchildren camping beside the Battenkill River and spent many happy afternoons watching them swim there.
Deborah always looked forward to spending time at “camp”, her grandfather’s property on Stafford Pond in Tiverton. She greatly enjoyed the large family reunions held there every summer. It gave her the opportunity to spend time with her extended family where she enjoyed preparing large elaborate meals with her sisters, watching her grandchildren race each other to “candyland” and enjoying the beautiful sunsets over the lake.
Her funeral service to which relatives and friends are invited will be held Friday at 11am in ANDERSON-WINFIELD Home, Greenville. Burial will follow in RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Visitation Thursday 4-7. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to her daughters cycling team, riding for The American Diabetes Association Tour De Cure, a cause she had supported for many years. Donations can be made online at their website, or mailed to The American Diabetes Association, Attn: Ocean State Tour de Cure, 260 Cochituate Road, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Framingham, MA 01701.