Vicki Jeanne Grieve

Vicki Jeanne Grieve of Chilliwack, B.C. passed away on her own terms with dignity and strength on January 23, 2025, at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre. She was comforted and surrounded by her daughters, Gabriella Chase and Lena Yacyshen, her siblings Tom, John, and Kerry Grieve. Vicki expressed her love to her older sister Gillian Taggart, in Adelaide Australia, earlier in the day by telephone.

During her dance with an aggressive form of cancer, Vicki received excellent care and comfort from her own doctor, and from the doctors, nurses and support staff of the ARHCC, both at the Cancer Centre and Complex Palliative Care unit. Vicki’s family want to thank them for all their support, tenderness and astute care.

Born on February 22nd, 1953, in Vancouver, Vicki was the third child of Jack and Patty Grieve, long time residents and active community members in Chilliwack. Vicki spent her later school years in Chilliwack and graduated from CSSS in 1971. Vicki was always adventurous and sought out new experiences and higher education. She studied at UVIC, SFU and UBC, where she received her B.A. in English and later her teaching degree. She studied Spanish at the Calle institute in Mexico where she became fluent in Spanish. During breaks in University Vicki worked in the Yukon in various jobs, including as a server, a camp cook, and for the Yukon government in Whitehorse.

Vicki returned to Chilliwack to raise her family and pursue her career at Fraser Valley College (now UFV) starting in 1986, initially teaching in the prison program, then teaching and eventually department heading what is now, the Upgrading and University prep program.

During her time at UFV she also used her considerable talents to work with the Faculty and Staff Association, serving as the Chief Negotiator and President of the Faculty and Staff Association in between 2013 and 2015. She earned the admiration and respect from her colleagues for her service in these roles. Throughout her career Vicki had a strong interest in family literacy and headed up several special projects focused on creating connections and opportunities for community literacy projects.

While Vicki’s first love was her family, she was also a poet and a philosopher who shared her thoughts, theories and love with her dear friends and family.

While raising two young wonderful children Vicki was able to complete SFU’s Creative Writing program where she created beautiful poems, adapting one into a one act play showcased at the UFV Theater’s Directors fest.

Following her retirement from UFV in 2018 Vicki returned to UFV as a sessional teacher and volunteered frequently at the Chilliwack Museum and Archives. Vicki was elated that her retirement coincided with the arrival of two beautiful granddaughters. In retirement Vicki also enjoyed fine drink, food and literature along with the “Golden Age” of television and countless evenings with friends and family surrounded by music and laughter.

Vicki is survived by her daughters, Gabby (Mark) and Lena (Andy), her grand children Alice and Holly, and her siblings Gillian, Tom (Linda), John (Marcia) and Kerry (Rob), and her nieces and nephews: Kelly, Matt, Jack, Meg, Colin, Clark, Stella and Iam, and many dear friends too numerous to mention. Vicki’s former partner, Ron Yacyshen, predeceased her by several years. Vicki’s bonds with the Yacyshen family are deep.

Vicki was an extraordinary mother, sister, aunt, friend, teacher and poet. She will be remembered as a kind, fiercely intelligent, well read, funny, generous and thoughtful person who had an enormous amount to give and profound things to say. She will be greatly missed by all who were blessed to know her.

A celebration of life will be held at the Camp River Hall on March 1, 2025 starting at 1pm to 4pm. Donations, in lieu of flowers can be made to the Chilliwack Learning Society or Chilliwack Hospice Society.

To join the Celebration of Life virtually please email gabbyyacyshen@hotmail.com to request the zoom link.