Veronica Doyle Passes
Volume 27 Issue 7, 8 & 9 | Posted: September 1, 2013
DOYLE, Veronica Margaret 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.
DOYLE, Veronica Margaret 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 at www.mccallbros.com.