Victoria King, known to many as Vicky, passed away peacefully at Ngaio Marsh Rest Home on August 21 at the age of 82. Remembered by her family and friends for her resilience, kindness, and enduring adventurous spirit, King’s journey embodied courage and optimism even in the face of terminal illness.
Born in Chile, King arrived in New Zealand in her early 20s with plans to stay only three years. However, political unrest in her homeland prompted her to settle permanently. Over nearly six decades in New Zealand, she established a life marked by hard work, community engagement, and family devotion. King worked in various roles including government departments and freight, eventually joining the Department of Trade and Industry, where she contributed to national budget preparations. Despite initial challenges such as language barriers and cultural adjustments, she was determined to make the most of the opportunities New Zealand offered. She studied English at school, took night classes at Wellington Polytechnic, and later helped run family businesses while raising two children.
King and her family moved to Christchurch in 1990, a city she came to consider home. In July 2025, she officially became a New Zealand citizen, surrounded by her son Thomas, daughter Caroline, and granddaughter Rita during the citizenship ceremony at Christchurch Town Hall.
In February 2026, King was diagnosed with terminal Hodgkin lymphoma and secondary liver cancer. Soon after receiving the diagnosis, she embarked on a long-held dream of travelling through Europe with her son Thomas. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, King and Thomas covered approximately 20,000 kilometres, visiting locations including Singapore, Milan, Barcelona, France, and the United Kingdom. Their journey included cultural landmarks like the Sagrada Familia as well as meaningful reunions, such as reconnecting with a former international student who had once stayed with the family in Christchurch. For King, these personal connections were as valuable as the destinations.
In June, the mother and son saw another aspiration fulfilled when they visited the Great Barrier Reef and stayed on Hamilton Island. Thomas recalled his mother enjoying the trip and described her strength and positivity during her final months. Even in her last days, King remained thoughtful of others, encouraging those around her to “keep writing beautiful and moving stories.”
King was the beloved wife of the late Gerald Charles King, loving mother to Caroline and Thomas, mother-in-law to Ryan, and cherished grandmother of Rita. Her determination to “keep going, keep living” until the end left a lasting impression on those who knew her, underscoring a life lived fully despite adversity.