Victoria Taylor

VICTORIA TAYLOR (Nee Kusick) June 8, 1929 – May 26, 2024

October 8, 1929

Victoria, and her twin sister, were born on October 8, 1929 in Hamlin Alberta to Alexander and Katrina Kusick. Where they lived on a farm. Mom was quite sickly and the doctor did not think she would live. God had other plans and mom survived, while her twin sister died a few weeks after birth.

Victoria was shy and reserved growing up. Not like the rest of the world at that point in time. Of course all I have to go on is the collaborative story of my aunts and uncles. However, Aunt Mary explained that Mom was actually a little bit of a princess. :) In her twenties, mom moved to Edmonton and got work at a garment factory as a seamstress. I am not so sure what type of sewing she was doing because the pictures I have of her with her co-workers look more like she were building tanks than sewing shirts.

While working in Edmonton Victoria and Dean met, got married, and nine months later I arrived. At least that is what my mother used to tell me. My Uncle Ronny, on the other hand, always tried to convince me that I was actually born a few months before they got married.

On June 7, 1953 Victoria and Dean were married. They lived in a small trailer following the power line construction where Dean worked as a lineman. Initially settling in Edmonton where Dean worked as a mechanic, Victoria continued to work as a seamstress.

On March 31, 1954 their son Robert was born

In the 1960s, Dad took a job in Vancouver, where we lived until I graduated from high school his son graduated from High School. Then mom and dad left home. Seriously! They packed up and moved to Prince George. While I stayed in Vancouver wondering what happened.

In Prince George, Victoria got a job at a cook at the Prince George Senior Center. She worked at the centre for forty years. They even put her picture up as a mural on the outside wall of the centre. Victoria was known for her cinnamon buns.

Victoria loved cooking. She loved children. She loved life. She loved thanking God for everything He had done for her. She attended First Baptist Church every Sunday she could. She was a gentle soul and went out of her way to get along with everyone.

Before moving back to Vancouver, Victoria lived at Gateway Assisted Living in Prince George, where the dedicated staff help her get through her day.

Victoria had a very supportive group of family and friends that helped and were always ready to answer that call...even if it was at 2 o’clock in the morning sometimes. :)

Robert visited Victoria on a regular basis when she came to Vancouver. He would ask her what she did that day. Her reply was usually, “nothing”. However, having talked with her friends, support people and family members just before, He knew she had a full day. She had talked to people on the phone, gone for a coffee, painted, many things that she did not remember.

In the summer of 2017, Victoria and her two sisters took a trip alone to Hawaii. There

Victoria was finally able to see pineapples growing in the ground. We called it the “3 Sisters in Hawaii Tour”.

As time marched on some days were better than others. There were days we would see Victoria slowly slipping away from us. Other days she was her same old feisty self.

But through God's eyes, Victoria is still Victoria!!!

As her son, she is, was, and will always be my mother.

Let me tell you a true story.

One day, as my wife and I were headed for our gate to catch a flight, I was moving with purpose, following the signs to the gate. I looked back to ensure Ida was keeping up. But my wife had disappeared. Then I saw her a ways back talking to an elderly gentleman. As I headed back I saw her point to the next gate and started this man on his way.

When I caught up to her, she told me that he looked very confused so she asked him where he was headed. To my surprise she mentioned that it was the gate that we kept hearing announced over the speakers for a person to get to the gate as they were in last boarding.

I mention this story only as a reminder to myself, as well as us all, to try and be more aware of our surroundings, to help those that are needing help or just looking confused, or those that look like they are struggling with their current situation.

A reminder to be more aware of those people, such as my mother, that are unable to help themselves, sometimes even unaware of their situation.

We cannot forget the impact these people have had in our lives throughout the years.

Because they are not moving as fast as we are does not mean they should be left behind. We need to take the time to walk at their pace. To try and see life through their confused eyes.

I will finish off with a quote from Encounters with Silence by Karl Rahner , where he talks about, we the living as dead in contrast to the eternal light of being in His presence:

When I pray, "Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let Thy perpetual light shine upon them," let my words be only the echo of the prayer of love that they themselves are speaking for me in the silence of eternity: "O Lord, grant unto him, whom we love in Your love now as never before, grant unto him after his life's struggle Your eternal rest, and let Your perpetual light shine also upon him, as it does upon us."

Oh my soul, never forget the dead. O God of all the living, do not forget me, the dead one, but come one day to be my life, as you are theirs.

Thank you for joining us to celebrate Victoria Taylor's (nee: Kusick) life here and now in eternity with her God,