Obituary of Victoria Jean Sutherland

Victoria Jean Sutherland, 79, of Santa Cruz, passed away August 21, 2020. Her strength, love of her family and faith in God earned her the red carpet treatment in Heaven. She has gone home to be with The Lord in Heaven and reunited with her husband, Frank, of 57 years. She was a gift to all of us. We will miss her beautiful smile, her positive attitude and her hugs the most. Vicki was born in San Carlos, California to Milton and Rebecca Harris. She graduated from Los Gatos High School. Vicki earned her nursing degree after attending Santa Clara County Hospital 1961 School of Nursing. She met Frank while he was “cruising” the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and their love story began. They bought a beautiful home in Pleasure Point and raised 3 children. Her nursing career lasted 40 years. She worked at Community Hospital Santa Cruz in the emergency room. Then she was a visiting nurse (VNA) for Visiting Nurse Association of Santa Cruz County. She would travel all over Santa Cruz county from Boulder Creek to Watsonville visiting her patients. Some of her favorite things she loved doing included playing the piano, sewing, gardening and she loved taking walks. She enjoyed having lunch with her nursing friends. Music. Sunshine. She especially loved her kids and grandchildren and all the stories about their life. She loved visits that included black coffee with donuts or cookies. Vicki is survived by her daughter, Rebecca (her voice and her best friend) and Dan (whom she always asked “How’s Dan?”) Carmichael of Fort Worth, TX; sons, Brian (her diamond in the rough) and Patti Sutherland of Ventura, CA; John (who was her favorite and has her beautiful blue eyes) and Julie Sutherland of Brookdale, CA; grandchildren: John “JB” and Kelsey Ferguson of Dallas, TX; Gavin and Gabrielle Sutherland of Brookdale, CA; Brother, Bob and Suzanne Harris of Aptos, CA; David and Barbara Sutherland, Bruce and Laurie Haugland, Stuart Sundblom, Matt & Susan Carmichael, and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. Thank you to Pam & Keith Hardy for their support and Saturday walks; to Pastor Jay Pierce and her church family for their prayers. She is also survived by Stella, the family dog. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, her parents and brother, John Harris. Due to the pandemic there will be no service at this time but a celebration of her life will be planned at a later date when COVID-19 restrictions permit. If you would like to donate in Vicki’s name please donate to the Santa Cruz SPCA, 2685 Chanticleer Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 or Alzheimer’s Association, 1777 Capitola Road #A, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. Mom we are so sorry it was so painful for you at the end of your life. We were by your side and loved you so much. You can now be at peace and we are at peace knowing you and Dad are “Together forever feeling the cool ocean breeze.”