VICTORIA HAARD
Victoria was born on January 4, 1943 in Manhattan, New York City to Herbert and Elizabeth Grifenhagen. Vicky passed away peacefully on June 1, 2022 in Davis, CA, at the age of 79. She was battling cancer.
Vicky was a dedicated wife, loving mother of three, and a grandmother of seven. She lived by her faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel. With her deep love of the Body of Christ, she was active in her local churches and the Fellowship of the Saints, and was involved with Gideon’s - who focus on the free distribution of Scripture for over 25 years. Wherever her journey took her, Vicky always managed to touch the hearts of those nearby with her grace, kindness and sincerity. Her absence leaves a void in many lives. She will be greatly missed by her family.
Beyond her involvement with church and family, Vicky was a student of life who loved to discover the world. Together with her beloved husband Norm, she visited over 30 countries across all seven continents. Vicky also took an active interest in writing poetry and reading books, in the study of medicine and nature, and in many other hobbies including gardening, singing, knitting, and baseball. But she was most especially fascinated by birds and the concept of flight.
Vicky subscribed to flight magazines while young, and later did postgraduate studies of ornithology at the University of Massachusetts before finally receiving her personal pilot’s license in her 50’s. She always loved attracting and feeding birds in her gardens, and was most especially fond of all the metaphors and scriptures about birds and flight to be found in the Bible.
In addition to her love of birds, Vicky took delight in bells, roses, and good chocolate. She was the embodiment of gratitude for not just the good things but all aspects of her experience, and was continually thankful for the myriad blessings that made up her spiritually rich and full life.
Vicky is survived by her sister, Carol (Bob) Russell; daughter, Elizabeth (Kevin) Schatz; sons, Theodore (Ellen Lin) Haard and Daniel Haard; grandchildren Abigail, Jesse, Peter, Aiden, Evan, and Ian Schatz, Adrian Haard. Nieces, Nephews and many other close family members, dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, and friends from all over the world.
A memorial service will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Paradise Cemetery District, in Paradise, CA. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be sent to The Gideons International in care of Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home. View obituary, send condolences and share memories of Vicky online at www.NBCFH.com.