My heart breaks at the loss of a beautiful,  kind,  and talented soul. I have a few  fleeting memories of Vicky and I when we were about five years old. I can see her in my mind riding on the back of my brother  Dick's tricycle. She was laughing,  and in a singsong and joyful voice, she kept repeating,  "Vicky and Dickey!"  Dick was my older brother,  and the three of us played outside at Grandma and Grandpa  Paskowicz's home in Chicago. 

Another memory is of Vicky and I napping together in the same crib in an apartment my parents rented that was above a garage in Chicago.  Many years went by without contact since then,   until we reconnected through Facebook about eight years ago. We emailed all the time and would have lengthy phone conversations sharing current news and life stories from the past. We grew very close as we shared each other's joyful,  but also our pain and darkest moments in life. With her permission,  I've made copies of her life stories ( which were way more interesting than mineI!)    and we saw how similar they were! She always said we had a strong bond and we were "sisters".

I will miss her deeply,  and will carry her in my heart always. My deepest sympathy and prayers for her family and friends. 

Rest in peace Vicky.  Darlyne

I could not have been more excited and grateful when Vicky found Rob 13 years ago. When we finally met, I felt like I had known her my whole life. She was so open, easy to talk to and interesting as hell. We always used to say there are no such things as coincidences because her and I shared many similarities and life experiences. I will miss her sense of humor and sharing our fun Amazon finds together. Her health in recent years was so trying for her, but she always remained hopeful and positive. She had a genuine. sweet and creative spirit. Rob, my two boys and I all ended up just being so blessed to be able to share our lives with her and her pets. I’m picturing her peacefully painting with all her beloved animals, family and friends around her. I will hold my memories of her close to my heart.

Love,

Debbie

Dear Vicky - thank you for being my guardian angel. We did not meet until 2011 when you found me out of nowhere when I was a 43 year old man living what I thought was a complete life, but had no idea how much you would add. You filled in the important gaps, 1) that I was the result of a brief relationship you had with a man you met at work, 2) you made the painful decision to give me up for adoption and 3) you were never far during my childhood in Beverly as I lived in Oak Lawn just a few miles away. Because of your brave and unselfish decision to carry me to term, I was adopted by Arthur and Patricia Price (and my sister Holly) who loved me like their own and raised me in a place where I met Debbie Smiley with whom I've built the life we have today with our sons Mitchell and Lucas. Furthermore, you helped me find my birth father (still living) along with sisters and other extended family, as well as introducing me to your extended family and friends, too. I'm blessed to have met so many good people so late in life!

My Dad passed away in 2013, so I hope you have a chance to meet up there in Heaven to discuss your shared connection to me. I'm glad that you are no longer in pain and in perfect health with your beloved sister Patricia and other dear friends, waiting for the rest of us.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you more in the last few years as your health declined, I'm sorry for not breaking through the soft barriers you erected to assure your loved ones that you were doing fine. I'm sorry you were alone when you passed and not surrounded by loved ones.

Thank you for everything - I'm proud to be your son and to come from a woman who lived life on her own terms and was truly one of a kind.

Love,

Rob