Nancy Walshe

Nancy Walshe, born in Toronto in 1946, passed away peacefully in her home in Victoria, embraced by the great love of her family, after a brief and brave battle with cancer. She was 79.

If you didn’t have the opportunity to meet Nancy in person, then you missed one hell of a great lady. A tall, gorgeous redhead with the most infectious laugh! One that could really fill your heart.

Her early years out west took her to Victoria, BC—a city that would become both a temporary and, eventually, permanent home. There, she began working at Seven Oaks, a residential treatment centre for youth, where she also met her first husband, Tom. Together, they welcomed daughter Shannon and, a few years later, son Ross, after relocating to Tom’s hometown of Ottawa.

She was known for her vibrant warmth, fierce intelligence, sense of humour, and her boundless energy. One of the things she was most proud of in her career was that she was a pioneer in the forefront of the telecommunications industry. She was involved in the development of groundbreaking work such as wireless data, integrated voice and data systems, fibre optic networks and the integration of surrounding technologies, all of which she juggled while also being a single Mom. She could turn any house into a home—often through her love of renovation projects and great cooking—and approached each new chapter in life with grit, grace, and a sense of purpose.

Though her marriage to Tom ended, Nancy later found love with Tony Walshe. Their life together was rich with adventure and filled with shared passions—golfing and globe-trotting. Their work took them to Malta, the UK, and Ireland, but their travels took them to sixty countries around the world, before they eventually returned to Victoria to retire in 2002. Tony passed away in 2019, and Nancy continued to enjoy skiing and sailing —always seeking new trails, new dances, and new memories.

She leaves behind her loving children, Shannon and Ross; cherished grandchildren Noah and Maggie; stepdaughters Sasha and Tanya, and step grandchildren; Charlie, Heather and Patrick. Her countless friends, many of whom have been in her life for more than 50 years.

Nancy's family would like to thank everyone for their support during this time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Nancy’s memory to a youth support organization or cancer research charity of your choice.