GLOUCESTER: Deborah N. “Debbie” Shinkawa, 46, of 308 Main Street died peacefully early Friday morning, March 25, 2011 at her home following a courageous year-long battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by her family and friends and never gave up. Debbie was the soul mate of Robert Winkelman.
Born in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, on December 23, 1964, she was the daughter of Miyako Otsu and the late Tad Shinkawa. She had been a resident of Gloucester for nearly seventeen years.
For the past thirteen years, she and Rob were the owners of “Out of the Blue” a jewelry store on Bearskin Neck, Rockport. On the neck and wherever she went, Debbie was thought of as an angel on earth, always lifting the spirits of others.
In addition to Rob and her mother, she is survived by her siblings, Anthony Shinkawa, Teresa Shinkawa, wife of Jamie Hausch, Esther Shinkawa, wife of Jim Cranswick, and Kenneth Shinkawa, husband of Teena Shinkawa; three nephews and two nieces and many dear friends.
Services will be held privately.