Obituary of Philippe Jenkins DeBernay

Our beloved son, Philippe Jenkins DeBernay, passed away at home in Colorado Springs following a courageous battle with Leukemia. He was born July 19, 1970 to Jean Pierre and Louise DeBernay in Kansas City, Missouri, moving here at age three. Philippe graduated from Wasson High School in 1989. Joining the US Navy, he became a Navy Medical Corpsman, followed by studies to become a Radiation Health Science Technician, and served at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Following military service, he graduated from EMT school here, but decided on his childhood love of film-making to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in film production from CU Boulder. He then moved to Sedona, Arizona to earn a Master's Degree in "Digital Film" at Zaki Gordon Institute, while working full-time at night at Enchantment Resort as their EMT, and serving as a youth sponsor at Christ Wesleyan Church. On his return to Colorado Springs, he became Director of Video Ministries at Sunrise United Methodist Church for ten years while also holding a full-time job at Barnes and Noble Booksellers.Philippe was an inveterate bibliophile and creative writer. His encyclopedic mind made him a valuable asset to customers seeking his help by name. He had a caring heart for helping people and became a guardian and court appointed conservator for Eby, a senior, who befriended him at the bookstore.He enjoyed the great outdoors as an avid fisherman and climbed several 14,000 foot peaks as a teenager with Outward Bound School. He loved reading, skiing, gourmet cooking, camping, model railroading, music, and visiting home-bound members of his church with his dad. His deep faith sustained him throughout his life.Philippe is survived by his parents, Pierre and Louise DeBernay; his brother, Paul DeBernay; his grandmother, Paulette Carstensen; his niece, Alexis DeBernay; and many uncles and cousins.Memorial contributions may be made to "Brent's Place" foundation, which provides free lodging to patients and caregivers while patients receive follow-up cancer care in Denver, Colorado. (brentsplace.org)We wish to extend our gratitude to Penrose Cancer Center, CBCI in Denver, Pike's Peak Hospice, and the Veterans Administration for their outstanding staff and support throughout the eighteen months during Philippe's illness. Philippe's "Celebration of Life" Memorial Service will take place at 2:30PM, on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at First Christian Church (DOC), 16 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.Inurnment, First Christian Church Columbarium, 16 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. Events Memorial Service Sunday, July 11, 2021 2:30PM First Christian Church 16 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs,, CO 80903 Phone: 719-328-1793 Final Resting Place First Christian Church Columbarium 16 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80903