Veronica Margaret Doyle died peacefully at home on July 3, 2013. She was the eldest of three daughters born to Agnes Mullan and Clarence Doyle in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is survived by her daughter Elizabeth; her sisters Ellen and Frances; her nieces Meaghan and Lindsay; her nephews Jeffrey, Jaime, and Christian; a large number of cousins; and many close friends and colleagues.
Veronica was a woman whose warm heart, clear vision, and strong values led her to challenge the status quo many times. Originally trained as a teacher with the Sisters of St Ann, she left the community – though not the friends she made there – to pursue new interests. Like a river, her career changed shape and substance as it took in new tributaries: education, elder-care, and, ultimately, equity in housing and health-care. Though she held prominent positions with the Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security and the Vancouver Island Health Authority, she derived greatest satisfaction from pioneering creative solutions to problems that confounded conventional measures. Her projects include an Assisted Living program for Vancouver Island, the Health Point Care Centre for older people living in the community, and Ready to Rent, a course that prepares people to attain and retain rental housing.
Amid an accelerating career, between attaining a Master’s of Education from Harvard and a Doctorate in Gerontology from Simon Fraser University, Veronica chose to have a child on her own. She raised her daughter in such a seamless matrix of friends and family that, from infancy, Elizabeth could proudly claim to have a complete and loving family.
Veronica gave all her energies to her daughter, her friends, and to a new vision of dignified, independent housing for all, regardless of their social, mental, or physical challenges. Her warmth, determination, wit, and ready laugh will be terribly missed. Her ashes will be scattered by family in beautiful Cowichan Bay, after which a private celebration of her life will be held on August 10. In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to Our Place Society (www.ourplacesociety.com) or to a fund for tenancy education through Ready to Rent.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Bros. Funeral Home
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Margaret McNeil
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Liz and Anders Treiberg Dear Beth and Family:
We send you our heartfelt condolences.
We enjoyed Veronica’s great sense of humour, her iron determination, and her golden heart.
We have many fond memories: among others, when you both visited us here on Cortes; Veronica and I sharing a bottle of Champagne after some tough negotiations; or all the fun French coffee conversations we had in Victoria, and many more.
Hugs and love,
Liz and Anders
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bill simpson Veronica hired me to teach at the Warehouse School Program in 1976. A wonderful and very inspiring person has passed on. She made a difference in the lives of many people including the students and teachers from those early days. A life well spent.
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Barb Ruegg Hello Elizabeth, I was so sad to hear of Veronica’s passing. Your mum hired me when she worked at VIHA. I so admired her management style, she challenged me to think out of the VIHA box and worked so hard to change the hospital model that VIHA insisted we conform to. She was successful too, she managed to bend the system and I credit her with the continued progress we see today.
I also remember that she was a very compassionate person, she cared about all her staff. When I left VIHA to pursue another opportunity she wrote me a beautiful letter thanking me for my contribution to move our program along.
She talked of you often, she was so proud of every single thing you did.
I will miss bumping into her from time to time and knowing that she is out there making change.
Take Care and I hope all your wonderful memories of her bring you comfort during this difficult time.
Barb Ruegg,
Director,
The Kiwanis Pavilion
Please accept my condolences and and comfort in knowing that Veronica’s life was well lived. She was a person of principle and deep love – I worked iwth her at the Ministry of Health and at VIHA. She was always a trusted colleague, wonderful listener and determined and tireless advocate. May her gitts and contributions endure.