Mavis DeGirolamo was a tiny woman, but she was larger than life and never turned her back on anyone, daughter Carole James recalled Friday.
DeGirolamo, 81, who died peacefully at home Wednesday surrounded by her family, is being remembered as a lifelong activist, volunteer, teacher and mentor.
“My mother was the true radical in our family,” said James, the former deputy premier of B.C. “If there was a cause that needed a fight and needed an advocate and someone to stand up for people, for justice, that was my mom.”
DeGirolamo started the Voice of Women peace organization and protested in Victoria every weekend during the entire Vietnam War.
“She was out there for every cause that needed somebody,” said James, joking that she spent her childhood on the protest lines. “She was extraordinary.”
DeGirolamo was born in Lancashire, England in 1939 to Edith and Richard Jones, just before the start of the Second World War. They emigrated to Canada when she was 12 and settled in Saskatchewan for a few years. In 1962, DeGirolamo, a single mother, moved with her parents, five-year-old Carole and Janice, four, to Victoria.
She was a teacher of children with special needs almost all of her 30-year career, 12 of those spent at Tillicum elementary.
She and her husband, Lorne DeGirolamo, who adopted Carole and Janice, also fostered children. Although the couple divorced, they remained good friends.
DeGirolamo became president of the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association and vice-president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation. When she retired, she moved from full-time teacher to full-time activist.
DeGirolamo began volunteering at the Intercultural Association 35 years ago and was its president for 12 years. She taught citizenship, English and English as a second language and was involved in all the citizenship ceremonies, said James.
In a Facebook post, the Intercultural Association said it had lost a great friend.
DeGirolamo was an enthusiastic organizer and provided support and mentorship over the years, the ICA said.
“She will be sorely missed and we are deeply grateful for all she gave as a friend and committed community builder.”
She was also involved with the Black History Association, the James Bay Community Project and New Horizons.
Ten years ago, DeGirolamo accepted an invitation to coffee with Bill Corbin, whom she had dated when her children were little. At the time, she told her daughter she had no time in her life for a relationship, but “I want to be polite so I’m going for coffee with him.”
“It was a wonderful love story for the last 10 years. They sold their homes and moved in together. She called him her sweetheart,” said James. “It was terrific. My mom worked so hard and when she and Bill got together, she also learned to play again.”
James remembers how her mother allowed a down-on-his-luck window washer camp in her backyard for several weeks.
“That’s just my mother. She was an incredibly special person and leaves such a huge, huge hole in our family. It’s pretty heartbreaking.”
Victoria city councillor Charlayne Thornton Joe described DeGirolamo as a loving, giving and caring individual.
“There are so many that are grieving right now, but are also honoured to have known Mavis,” said Thornton Joe.
“She cared about the community and was an amazing volunteer who inspired us all.”
• A celebration of life for Mavis DeGirolamo will be held at James Bay New Horizons at 234 Menzies St. on July 27 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 pm.
