Vicki de Reynal

Vicki was born to French parents in Martinique, ‘a little grain of sand’ her grandmother called it. She returned there often as she had fond memories of her mother and grandmother in Martinique. Many family members still live there.

Vicki was a world traveler who spoke several languages. Her travels took her to Australia, Alaska, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Tanzania, Kenya, The Seyhelle Islands, Russio, Spain, and France, just to name a few. In addition to her travels, she enjoyed teaching English.

Vicki lived in the Chicago area for many years. She still has friends from her time in Chicago. Her children were born in Chicago. But Newport Beach has been her home since 1980. Paradise, she called it.

Vicki was an active volunteer at Hoag Memorial Hospital, where she worked in the CCU/sub-ICU, Library Cart, Auxiliary Office, and Disaster. She enjoyed her work at Hoag and spoke of her fellow volunteers often. As she put it “Without them, how could anxious family members survive the waiting.”

Vicki was friendly and chatty with everyone she met. She was very funny and quick-witted. She spoke honestly with gentleness and grace. Vicki loved to walk on the beach, take long drives, and sit at the park and people watch. She loved onion rings, Frappuccino from Starbucks and chocolate.

Vicki’s philosophy of life was to live in the present moment rather than worrying about the future or dwelling in the past. While Vicki had a difficult young life, she nevertheless remained happy, generous, kind and free spirited in her adult life. Her gentle wisdom will be deeply missed.