Holly Elizabeth Galvon

Holly passed quietly, surrounded by her loving family – mother Paulette, father Michael and devoted second mom Terry Ann Duncan, sister Jessamyne, nephew Emilio and Jesse’s fiancé Chris Reid. Other family members present were her Aunt Sandy and Uncle Greg, godmother Valerie Fetherston, her dear friends Juan Jose Sanchez Falcon and Tony Tran, her special sisters – Kimberly Joy, Samantha Unger, Sophia McCarty and Hannah Rail. Left to mourn her is her Grandmother Margaret Pados, her Galvon aunts Mary Jo Grassick and family, Theresa Tucker and family, Patty Schmunk and family, Cathy Petek and family, uncles Dennis Galvon and family, Tim Galvon and family; her Pados aunt, Theresa McFadyen and family living in Australia. Holly was predeceased by her grandparents, Paul Kuntz in 1960 and Joe Pados in Victoria and Henry and Bridget Galvon of Olds, AB.

Holly was born one bright spring day in April in Medicine Hat, AB. The brightness of the day was a theme in her whole life. She moved with her family to Victoria, BC when she was just a child to chase away the grey skies there. She went to school at St Patrick’s Elementary and Central Jr Secondary and graduated from Victoria High School in 1996. In each school, she made lasting friends.

After graduation, Holly moved back to the prairies to attend the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where she studied Psychology. She haunted the West Edmonton Mall where she worked and a favourite job was at a Canadian Art store. But she grew lonely for the coast, for the smell of the ocean and yes, for the grey skies and the rain and after eight years, Edmonton lost her to her rightful place.

Holly learned much about life and herself, living on her own, away from her immediate family and her support network. Later, she chose not to work in her field of study but she applied what she had learned to her relationships. She was compassionate and caring and had a wonderful sense of the ridiculous. Anyone who received a gift from Holly knows about this. Those who knew her well admired her imagination, wit, humility and enviable collection of hand tools.

Holly was a complicated person. She loved fun and good times but was also intensely private. While fluent in almost every social situation, she insisted on carefully maintaining her independence. In recent times, she could be found, curled up on the sofa with her cats pondering the world, writing, and listening to her ever expanding music collection. She would make what used to be known as ‘mixed tapes’ aka CDs for family and friends and it was eerie how she could read another person and pick just the right songs.

Devoted to her family, Holly had special relationships with her Grandpa Joe and her nephew Emilio. Emilio especially was the light of her life and the two of them had way too much fun, playing on the beach, cuddling on the couch, walking, talking – just sharing the joy of being alive. He was her Meatball.

Holly was called ‘gorgeous’, ‘smart’, ‘hilarious’ and ‘compassionate’. She had a beautiful smile and a glisten in her eyes when she was with the people she loved and cared about. Our family has had so many messages from Holly’s friends, colleagues and family members from near and far, about how their lives were affected by her loving nature. People are reaching out to each other with love and hugs. This is Holly’s legacy and no one would be more surprised than she. Our family continues to receive beautiful messages about Holly. We are so appreciative of your kind thoughts and words which are sustaining us through this time of loss. Our hearts are broken, our lives forever changed but we will remember our Holly as a new bright star in the sky. Her twinkle will gently guide us, laugh with us and never dim. Holly your beauty is forever in our hearts.

Love is all there is.

There is a public viewing of our beloved angel at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, on Wednesday, October 12th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.  On Saturday, October 15, a service will be held at Holy Cross Church on Gordon Head Road at 11am. We are also hosting Holly’s Party to celebrate her life and honour her memory, welcoming all on Saturday, October 15th from 1pm to 5pm at Ambrosia Hall 638 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

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