BAZILLI, Virginia Joyce
(nee Richards)
March 31, 1925 - September 2, 2008
On Sept. 2nd 2008, we lost our most beloved mother and grandmother. She will live on in our hearts forever.
Virginia, born into a pioneer family from the UK (Russell Richards) and Australia (Nan Richards nee Wood), spent her childhood in Vancouver, West Van and Trail.
Graduating from UBC, she proudly attended her 60th reunion this year. After school she traveled for several years, settling in West Vancouver with her new husband, Michael Bazilli. Their flowershop, owned together, led to her life long passion with gardening. A move to Oakville, Ontario in 1959 saw the start of a busy life with four children. Early summers were spent at the family built cottage in Muskoka.
After her divorce, she single handedly raised her children as a subsistence farmer in Centreville, Ont. At 50 she returned to school, her Education degree from Queen's began her career as a teacher in Belleville, Ontario.
Returning to Vancouver in 1980, Virginia became Principal of Pitman's Business College, founded in 1898 by her Aunt Eveline. In 1988, she retired to Hatzic Island, created a spectacular one acre garden, and began painting, exhibiting at the Mission Art Gallery. She adventured with her children to Africa, India, Australia, Mexico, Russia, UK, US and Canada. To be closer to her grandchildren and children, she moved to North Vancouver in 2002, into the family home known as "Nanna's House".
Virginia leaves her bereft children, Susan, Michael, Catherine and John, their partners, Dasi, Mimi, Lachlan and Nancy; her grandchildren Cameron, Matthew, Alison and Rosalie; her brother Peter Richards and sister Shirlie Barnett, nieces and nephews, Australian cousins, and her many dear friends. She was the heart and soul of our family, and we were hers. An educator, teacher, mentor, visionary, her ultimate life's work was to nurture her children, which she did with joy and love. We were blessed, and always will be.
Funeral held at St. Catherines Anglican Church, Edgemont, North Van, on Sat Sept 13 at 2pm. Reception to follow.
Our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Lion's Gate Hospital for their care and compassion and to Dr. Raj Mainra, Dr. Paul Klimo and Dr. Warren Mayo.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in her name to Lion's Gate Hospital Foundation - Angiography Suite Campaign.