Debbie Nightingale Obituary-Death News; Debbie Nightingale Death – Debbie (Deborah) Nightingale Dies after Cancer Battle
With heavy hearts and profound sorrow, we announce the passing of Debbie Nightingale—an extraordinary woman whose energy, compassion, and brilliance left an indelible mark on everyone she met.
Debbie passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by love, in the very place she built to reflect her spirit: Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope, Ontario. Born in Toronto on October 14, 1953, to Buddy and Helen Nightingale, Debbie lived life with unmatched zest.
From her earliest years, it was clear that she was someone destined to live boldly and generously. Educated at York Mills Collegiate Institute and The University of Western Ontario, Debbie’s journey took her through the vibrant world of film and television, where she worked with passion, precision, and a fierce creative drive.
She was the founder of The Nightingale Company and became a respected figure in Canadian media. Yet, even as her career flourished, her heart always longed for something more elemental—something rooted in the natural world.
That calling led her to the countryside, where she created Haute Goat Farm, a sanctuary not only for animals but for people seeking joy, connection, and healing.
Debbie’s dream was to build more than a farm—it was to create a space that embodied her values: kindness, inclusivity, humour, and wild beauty. And she did. At Haute Goat, visitors weren’t just guests—they were welcomed into her world with open arms, warm laughter, and a deep sense of belonging.
“This is where I’m supposed to be,” she often said, and those words now echo with heartbreaking clarity. Debbie’s battle with cancer was fought with the same unwavering determination she brought to every challenge in life.
She was not ready to go—not because she feared death, but because she loved life so deeply. She had more dreams, more laughter, more love to give. Her departure feels impossible, her absence, immeasurable.
She is survived by her loving husband, Shain Jaffe, who stood steadfastly by her side; her beloved children, Sarah, Leland, and Noah Nightingale-Forfar, who carry her fire and love forward; her devoted sister, Caron Nightingale, and caring brother, Ben Nightingale.
She was deeply loved by her treasured stepmother, Margaret Nightingale, and her cherished stepchildren, Gita Jaffe and Meave Forfar. Debbie was also a mother by heart and choice to her “adopted children,” Theadora, Owen, and Hitarth, whose lives she enriched with unending love and guidance.
Her grandchildren—Anna and Owen Healey, and Chasin and Calev Moss—were her pride, her joy, and her reason to keep smiling even in her hardest days. To know Debbie was to feel seen.
She had the rare gift of making everyone feel important and loved, whether through a shared laugh, a heartfelt conversation, or a spontaneous dance in the field. Her presence was magnetic, and the love she gave so freely will echo for generations.
In honour of her life, the family invites you to skip the flowers. Instead, walk the trails of Haute Goat, share a quiet moment with the animals she adored, and smile—just as Debbie would have wanted. Donations can be made to the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, supporting a cause she deeply believed in.
Details for a celebration of life will be announced in the near future. Until then, Debbie’s light lives on in every act of kindness, every belly laugh, and every connection made in love.
