Frances Victoria Gaiger

Hallelujah! Heaven has just received the sweetest Granny on earth!

Vicky was born on November 27, 1910 to Frances Amelia and Roland Jeremiah Satchell, in Seaford, Sussex, England, and passed away on June 13, 2012 at 101. Sadly, her biological mother died when she was 3 or 4 years old, but joyfully she was raised by her Uncle and Aunty who thereafter became Mom and Dad, Fred and Mary Green. She loved her adopted family as if they were her own.

Apart from her parents and sisters, Violet and Ethel, and brother Arthur, Vicky was preceded in death by: beloved husband Leonard Gaiger, 1981, to whom she was married for 44 years; her two beloved sons, Richard Austin Gaiger in 1961, a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, killed when his jet crashed while stationed in Aden; and Roger Edwin Gaiger who died on the Isle of Wight in 1983; her seven biological siblings and her dear son-in-law Gianni Costanzo.

Vicky is survived by her daughter, Diana Costanzo Finn and her husband Frank Finn, her adored grandsons and their wives, Filippo and Kristin Costanzo, Julian and Rosalyn Costanzo, and Paolo Costanzo; grandson Simon Gaiger of Sydney Australia and granddaughter Emma Gaiger of Vancouver, Canada; much loved great-grandchildren Gianni, Luca, Matteo, Siena Victoria and Mack, and, daughter-in-law, Yvonne Gaiger Richards. Vicky is also survived by her step-grandchildren, David and Melissa Finn, Patrick Finn, and Sean Finn, Susan Finn and husband Ed, and precious step- great-grandchildren Liam, Rory, Killian, Remy, and David and Sam Egas.

Vicky also leaves behind her adored nieces with whom she grew up, Pamela Shamlock and Norma Dawe of England. She is also survived by her “very special” Wendy Hayden-Sadler and God daughter, Rebekah Hayden, of England. Many more much loved nieces and nephews especially Vanessa Harrington-Capp and Dina Weetman, also of England, many friends all around the world too numerous to mention.

Vicky and Len survived the Battle of Britain during WWII, and Vicky evacuated just in time to avoid the bombing of their home in Croydon. She devoted her life to her family, her love of gardening, tennis and bridge and all the things of that period for English ladies. Upon Len’s retirement they moved to Dallas, Texas to be close to Diana and her family.

In Dallas Vicky was much more than just “Granny” to her family. Following the untimely death of her son in 1983 and her son-in-law in 1984, she became a figure of support and love for her grandchildren both here and in England. In Dallas, she would car pool using her car which became known as the “Granny Mobile”. She and the Granny mobile were the ultimate “back-up” when everyone else’s failed. She was always kind, generous and gentle, always a granny to turn to in need. She will be dearly missed.

At her death, Vicky was proudest of all her extended family and of her age. She was always an English lady of beauty and style; a citizen of Great Britain but a happy resident of the United States.

The family expresses sincere and heartfelt thanks to all the doctors, nurses and support staff who have cared so diligently for her during her most recent years of declining health, especially those at Parkland Geriatrics and from UT Southwestern, and those who cared for her during her final days at Parkland Hospital - her Angels in disguise.

Visitation will be from 6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, June 17 at Calvary Hill Funeral Home. Services will be on Monday, June 18, at 11 am at Calvary Hill Funeral Home Chapel on Lombardy Lane conducted by The Reverend Father Guptill. The service will be followed by interment at Calvary Hill Cemetery and a reception at the funeral home. Vicky loved beautiful flowers but in lieu, gifts in her memory may also be made to Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas or Parkland Hospital Foundation.