Rose and Victor Gallo. Shortly before Victor’s passing from cancer, the couple left a memorial gift to the QEII Foundation, citing the exceptional care that Victor received from QEII care teams. CONTRIBUTED
Rose Gallo is taking it day-by-day since losing her 82-year-old husband, Victor, to liver cancer on Sept. 26, 2023.
Celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on April 27 without him was extremely difficult for Rose, who was Victor’s primary caregiver during his battle with cancer. But Rose says she was able to get through it with the tremendous support she received from QEII staff and other care providers in the community.
Victor wanted to be cared for at home for as long as possible and, according to Rose, she was able to honour that wish due in large part to weekly visits by the QEII’s Dr. Stacey General and nurse Cindy Bell once her late husband was unable to travel for care.
When the time came for Victor to enter the hospital, no rooms were available in the palliative care unit so he was set up in a private room on another floor of the QEII where he passed away the following evening.
Rose, a cancer survivor herself, will remain forever grateful for all the help and support she received while caring for Victor at home. In fact, she’s still amazed at just how many people went above and beyond for them; often without being asked.
“I didn’t do it alone. It was like a revolving door at the house with people always coming and going. I feel so grateful for everybody helping me out. I couldn’t ask for more and couldn’t have done it on my own,’’ she shares.
The couple were so touched by the extraordinary care they received from the QEII that they donated a memorial gift to the QEII Foundation shortly before Victor’s death. It was split between the QEII’s Palliative Care Unit and the QEII’s Patient Essentials Fund, which provides immediate access to gift cards for QEII patients in need and very much in keeping with Victor and Rose’s life-long efforts to help others.
“It just seemed like the right thing to do. I just wish I could have given more,’’ says Rose.
The fact they were given the option of deciding where the memorial gift would be directed made it that much more special for the couple, who are strong believers in the philosophy of giving back in life.
Rose is happy they decided to make a memorial gift to the QEII Foundation before Victor passed away and that it came with his blessing. She’d like more people to consider making a memorial gift in memory of someone special - be it big or small - or for themselves or someone else.
You might be healthy right now, but tomorrow, who knows? Even a little bit is better than nothing, but to not give anything is a shame, really,’’ adds Rose. “You have to give something back because at some point, you’re going to need something. It could be for you, your children, your grandchildren, or total strangers.’’
And it’s a way to leave a beautiful tribute about special people.
Rose and Victor had a whirlwind courtship that led to marriage in just a matter of months after first meeting. Victor moved to Canada from Italy at the age of 14 and throughout the course of his self-funded education, became fluent in English, French and Italian. He was passionate about the arts, languages and music and although he had studied architecture in school, his love of learning and helping others led him to a career as a teacher and principal in the Catholic school system where he earned not only the respect of his co-workers and students, but the community in general everywhere he went.
Rose and Victor Gallo with their three grandchildren. CONTRIBUTED
They lived in the Toronto area for most of their life where they raised their two children, Maria and Marco, and were surrounded by members of Victor’s large family. Although they moved around a bit in the years following Victor’s retirement, the couple eventually relocated to Hammonds Plains to be closer to their son and his family. Maria lives in Ireland with her two children. Victor adored his grandchildren and, despite battling cancer, designed and built a playhouse and treehouse for them in the backyard of his home.
Rose describes Victor as a no nonsense and confident person who went above and beyond in all aspects of his professional and personal life.
“He was kind of stubborn, but he was fair, and he did what had to be done,’’ she says.
He was strong in faith and sense of self-worth and faced his illness with strength and positivity – an experience made easier by the support received from the QEII.
“To have the support we did sure made a lot of difference.”
To remember a loved one with a gift in their memory, visit QE2Foundation.ca/Memory.