Valerie E. Phillips (nee Gindper)
Our beloved mother passed away peacefully in Victoria on June 19 at the age of 82. Valerie was born in Shanghai on September 15, 1926 and came to Vancouver BC in 1949. While raising her family she also turned a love of costumes into a well-known costume business, where she made many friends. Valerie leaves behind her daughters, Dory (Rick) Allen, Audrey (Rob) Waldie; sons, Chris (Cathie), Doug, Terry (Vivian), Gerald (Brenda); grandchildren Angela (Graham), Melissa (Kosta), Jonathan, Cory (Katie), Matthew, Brandon, Jessie, Carly, Trevor, Jennifer, Levi, Zane, Kyle, Peggy and Patricia; great grandson Pavlo.
A Funeral Service will be held in McCall Bros. Floral Chapel, Johnson & Vancouver St., Victoria, BC on Monday, June 29, 2009, at 1:00 pm., the Reverend Kostas Kaltsidis officiating.
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We are thinking of you and your famiy Audrey. Your mother’s final months were comfortable and peaceful due to the love and care you gave her.
Love Joan, John and Jennifer
Audrey & family,
We will remember your Mom with fond thoughts of the costume shop and conversations in Kerrisdale. She leaves a wonderful legacy in her children and grandchildren. Our love to you all,
Jim, Beth, Jill & Jeff Connolly
Hi Angela
I am so sorry to hear such sad news , you know I LOVED your Grandma. Often I felt we were made of the same cloth & I will miss her very much, she was one of the strongest ( stubborn!) women I have had the pleasure of knowing in my life. Her age was totally irrelevant to her spirit , strength, passion & conviction to her work and her life she was an example to anyone, on work ethics & passion
Although is gone from us, she is telling God his outfit ’sucks’ & is making him a new one as we speak !
Bless her heart , I will always remember her
Your sorrow is felt by all of us
Wishing you well in these hard days and If I can swing it, I will be there for you
Love always
Paul
I OFFER MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCE AND SHARE IN THE SORROW AND SADNESS BROUGHT ON BY THE SUDDEN
DEPARTURE OF OUR BELOVED VALERY. SHE WAS THE
KINDEST PERSON I HAVE EVER KNOWN, THE VERY BEST OF THE BEST. SUCH UNSELFISHNESS AND TRUE FRIENDSHIP
CAN NO LONGER BE FOUND ANYWHERE.
MAY SHE REST IN PEACE
I was sorry to read of Val’s passing. For many years, I used to rent various costumes from her, from Heather Street to Marpole to Richmond. I mainly rented kilts for Robbie Burns Day in January. Quite often, I would pick them up on my way home and would frequently give her a ride home. I would then pick her up at her home on East Boulevard on the Monday morning to return them. During those drives, we would talk about her family and her life, complete with anecdotes and wonderful stories. It is several years since I have needed to rent a kilt and on Thursday, I drove past her old apartment building and wondered whether she was still there. The next day I read her obituary. My sincere condolences to her family. I think I did meet one of her daughters once when I was in the shop for a fitting.
Peter Scott
There was a time when , as children,Valerie and I played together in Shanghai . She lived in a lovely house designed and built by her father, who was an architect. We did not go the the same school, nor live close so we did not see each other often. Since then we have been in touch off and on – at one time saw each other quite frequently, and I believe I attended Audrey’s wedding. I remember her costumes business and how good she was at making costumes too. I always admired your mother for her sincerety, openness and living as her conscience and beliefs directed her – which is never easy. I am sorry we lost touch . I shall miss her. She did her best for her children and it looks as though she has been very successful.
My sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren,
Irene Mari
Gerald and family – my sincerest condolences on the passing of your mom. She was quite a lady. I don’t know how she did it…raising a large family while running a successful business. I’m sure you’re all very proud of her and her many accomplishments in life.
It would have been nice had I been able to let her know that I’m still carrying an extra inch or two around the middle from all the ice-cream she fed me as a teenager. Her freezer was never empty !
I hope you, Brenda and family are well.
Steve Wallouch