A Life: ‘Always my best friend’: Debbie Howland taught her daughters they could do anything

Debbie Howland’s sister-in-law, Debra Goodwin, bought roses for her funeral. Three weeks later, two flowers still bloomed ruby-red in a Mason jar at Debbie’s brother’s house in Lebanon. She sent a photograph of the roses to her nieces, Katie Podolsky, 46, and Christina Howland, 51. They responded with awe: Without realizing it, Debra had texted the photo on the day of their parents’ 56th wedding anniversary. Deborah “Debbie” Howland died from complications from her cancer treatment on Aug. 21 in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she had lived full-time since 2006, moving from her native New Hampshire to be close to her daughters and grandchildren, who live in Tampa. Debbie was buried in Lebanon with her yellow Labrador, Gus. She and her husband, Doug Howland, made their mark on the Upper Valley with their businesses, Howland Upholstery and Howl’n Good Kettle Corn, the latter still open today and run by Lebanon local Rick Desharnais.

This excerpt comes from the named source. Read the original for the full reporting.