Victoria "Vicki" Gersch Luquire

Victoria “Vicki” Gersch Luquire passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 17, 2014, surrounded by her loving family in Charlotte, N.C. Her strong will to live, along with the constant love and support of family and friends, carried her through a year-long battle with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Vicki was born on March 15, 1950, in West Palm Beach, Fla., to the late Albert and Mary Gersch. Her mother instilled in her a true sense of family and the importance of always demonstrating kindness and generosity to others, no matter the circumstance. These lessons provided the foundation for how Vicki led her beautiful life. She was a graduate of Palm Beach Junior College and East Carolina University, where she majored in art history. During her time at East Carolina, she became a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority, a lifelong sisterhood that endured throughout her life. Upon graduation in 1972, Vicki married Steven Luquire, beginning a loving relationship of nearly 42 years. Together, they raised two wonderful children, Jennifer and Brooks, who were the loves of Vicki’s life. Family was central to her, and no one was a better mother or grandmother than Vicki.

A lifelong art educator, Vicki began her early career as an elementary art teacher for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. After having children, she stayed home to raise Jennifer and Brooks until they began attending St. Ann’s Catholic School, where she reengaged as an art teacher, providing support to students in all eight grades for a number of years. Her passion for art and crafting continued throughout Vicki’s life. She also found great joy in being an active presence in the lives of her children and grandchildren. Whether it was participating in special school functions, sporting events, or extracurricular activities, Vicki was the first to volunteer.

While her interests always started with family, Vicki had many hobbies, and she especially loved gardening and scuba diving. She became a master diver and embarked on many dive trips to countless islands throughout the world. Vicki cherished her tight-knit group of diving buddies, who all enjoyed the fellowship and ability to observe the beauty of the sea together.

Vicki was an avid Panthers fan, as are Steve and their entire family. During her stay and treatment at the Duke Medical Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Vicki received special skull caps from the Panthers that she began wearing when she lost her hair from chemotherapy prior to her bone marrow transplant on Oct. 15, 2013. Donning those skull caps for good luck became a treasured ritual for both Vicki and Steve.

Vicki’s zest for life and selfless, beautiful spirit carries on in those who survive her. She leaves behind her loving husband, Steve; daughter Jennifer Freno, her husband, Michael, and three grandsons, Colman, 9, Holden, 7, and Carter, 4, of Charlotte; son Brooks and his wife, Jenny, of Charlotte; three brothers: John Gersch and his wife, Deanie, of Ellijay, Ga., Chris Gersch, of Tequesta, Fla., and Andy Gersch and his wife, Cathy, of Roanoke, Ala.; two sisters: Ann York and her husband, Pete, of Stuart, Fla., and Betsy Raper and her husband, Bill, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; and sister-in-law Joan Luquire, of Durham, N.C. Vicki also is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Vicki will be remembered for easily engaging people in conversation, her contagious smile and her humble, selfless demeanor. It is for all these reasons and more that Vicki had so many lifelong friends. Her Alpha Xi Delta sorority sisters were a constant source of encouragement, showering her with cards, calls and visits throughout her illness. For this, as well as the never-ending support of the family she cared for so deeply, Vicki was eternally grateful.

The family would like to express its sincerest gratitude to the nursing teams at Duke Medical Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and the ICU and bone marrow transplant teams at Carolinas Medical Center. Special thanks to Drs. Heyer, Gritter, Shahid, Tanner, Copelan and others who were so incredibly supportive.

Arrangements are being handled by Harry & Bryant Funeral Home, 500 Providence Rd., Charlotte. A celebration of Vicki’s life will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2014, from 6 - 8 p.m. at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 3016 Providence Rd., Charlotte. The funeral service will be held Wednesday, April 23, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gabriel. Private burial services will take place immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Project Life Movement, 1115 East Morehead St., Suite 227, Charlotte, N.C., 28204 or Holy Angels of North Carolina, 6600 Wilkinson Blvd., P.O. Box 710, Belmont, N.C., 28012-0710.