Deloris Packard was born and raised in Harcourt Ontario, a small town at the base of Algonquin Park. She is the youngest of eight children, with a significant age gap of twelve years between her and her oldest sister. Packard's childhood was spent on a small hobby farm, where her family raised livestock and maintained a one-acre vegetable garden.
As a teenager, Packard worked during the summer months in various lodges situated in and around the Haliburton Highlands. Her post-secondary education took place at Canadore College in North Bay, where she earned a diploma in Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Management. Packard's professional journey in the hospitality industry spanned several years and saw her working in a variety of roles across different provinces, including Alberta, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. However, she spent the majority of her career in Ontario. Together with her spouse, she ran a restaurant in the heart of cottage country, which was located just five miles away from her family home. Packard's extensive experience in the hospitality industry has equipped her with the unique ability to narrate this story from an insider's viewpoint.