Deborah Anne (Smith) Calder

Deborah Anne Calder, age 72, of Coventry RI, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, April 24, 2024 after a short illness. Daughter of the late Burton D and Lois (Brown) Smith of Wickford, Debbie shared her mother’s love of nature, animals, baking, and gardening. She is survived by her loving life- partner Marc Joubert, a menagerie of animals, and a large garden. She was a survivor of esophageal cancer.

Born in Portsmouth VA, Debbie grew up in Wickford RI with her brother, where she discovered her passion for saving injured animals; a drowning baby skunk, a seagull with a broken wing, pigeons that fell from under the Hussey Memorial Bridge. After graduating from North Kingstown High School, Debbie went to Johnson & Wales College in Providence studying business. Debbie worked for Klitzner Industries in Providence for over 35 years, initially as a bookkeeper and later handling all credit and collections, a task at which she excelled. In keeping with her love of animals, she also worked second jobs for several years assisting the Max Balforth in his veterinary practice and as an assistant at a veterinary lab.

Debbie met the love of her life when she hired Marc to build her house in Coventry. Together since 1997, their small gardens have expanded yearly to provide nearly all the vegetables needed year-round. An excellent gardener, Debbie was just as good with animals. The coop supports chickens and ducks, her beloved rabbits and various critters needing care. She had three horses over her lifetime…..Tempest (she was an accomplished rider and barrel racer with him), Bozo, and her rescue pony Cody. She helped out the West Greenwich Horsemen’s Association. Debbie also raised and trained many dogs, mostly Irish Setters, winning many ribbons with Clancy. She even developed a talent for “rabbit-whispering”, where she gained the trust of wild rabbits enough that they would come up and eat from her hand.

In addition to Marc, Debbie is survived by her brother Robert Smith in St Mary’s City MD, and her niece Nicole with husband Steve and her grand-nephew Sammy Williams in Mechanicsville VA.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, June 14, 2024 at the Coventry-West Greenwich Elks Lodge, 42 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI, with reception to follow. It is requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the ASPCA, the World Wildlife Federation, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), or the Gary Sinise Foundation.  Information and condolences, please visit: www.PrataGallogly.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deborah Anne (Smith) Calder, please visit our floral store.