With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Avrille Gosling on March 27, 2025. Avrille was born April 20, 1941, in St. Catharines, ON, and spent the first seven years of her life moving around central and eastern Canada as her father’s career as a pilot dictated. She lived in the Maritimes, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Toronto, Melville (Saskatchewan), Nanaimo and Lake Cowichan, before settling in Victoria in October 1948.
She grew up in Victoria, graduated from Oak Bay High School and completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Victoria. After some post-education travel, she went to Squamish to explore a teaching career there. As part of that process, she ended up observing in the classroom of Bill Gosling. They ended up marrying each other in June of 1963. They had all three of their children in Squamish and moved in 1976 to Powell River, where they each continued their careers in education in various schools in the district.
In 1992, Avrille moved back to Victoria and worked in the Saanich school district for a few years, ultimately retiring in the late 1990s.
During her earlier life and after her retirement, Avrille enjoyed gardening, hiking, camping and being outdoors. Right out of high school and even after her mobility began to decline, she loved to travel, exploring all four corners of the world on her own, as well as with Ben (her partner of 25 years), her children and grandchildren, and other family and friends. She was always up for an adventure!
Avrille will be remembered as a kind and giving woman, very independent and living life to its absolute fullest. She loved to laugh, she was the best conversationalist and listener, and would know (and remember) someone’s life story within 15 minutes of meeting them.
Avrille is survived by her partner Ben, sons Alan (Francoise) and David, daughter Karin (Damian), grandchildren Amanda (Eric), Steven (Amer), Ashley and Ricky (Kelli), sister Danielle and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Thank you to all the doctors and nurses in Royal Jubilee Hospital who took care of Avrille in her final hours. A celebration of Avrille’s life will be held at the Scottish Community Centre in Victoria on May 10, 2025, from 2 until 4 pm. If you can attend, please RSVP to [email protected] by April 28, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Avrille’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, or a charity of your choice.
