Victoria Lanard

Victoria Lanard

September 26, 1934 – August 2, 2022

Victoria Lanard of Norwalk, CT, passed away peacefully on August 2, 2022. She is survived by her cherished son, Phillip, and Rose Lanard, whom Victoria considered the daughter she never had. She was a remarkable Mom, mother-in-law, and mother figure. She personified class, loveliness and kindness. Anyone who had the good fortune to meet her found a ready friend, a wonderful listener, and a truly kind soul. In greeting you, she was apt to begin with “Hello Sweetheart,” and, in conversations, it was common to hear phrases like “Well, that is just marvelous!” or “This is divine!” (often in reaction to a delicious meal or a beautifully-wrapped gift) or “I had a swell time!” She had a childlike quality that was sweet and endearing, and, even as she got older, she never lost her unique charm or profound gratitude for the special moments in life. One example: on a trip to Paris many years ago, it started to rain and turn gray—in what could have been seen as a vacation downer. Her reaction, with arms turned up to the sky, was “Look at the rain, isn’t it beautiful?”

She was married to Phillip Lanard, Sr., who predeceased her in 1972. Their love story was an abundant one, full of artists and parties and summer vacations in Maine with friends. Born in Manhattan, Victoria spent her childhood through adult years in the city she adored for its arts and culture, endless culinary destinations, and the unstoppable energy she herself exuded so consistently. She loved to walk around the city for hours and hours, stopping by Greenwich Village cafes, Fifth Avenue stores, and many (many!) jaunts up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She had such dear friends in the city and loved to reminisce about the fun they had. Victoria was a gifted painter; many of her floral still life paintings graced her workplace, The Salvation Army professional residences, where she worked for 50+ years as a “house” manager. Countless St. Vincent’s Hospital nursing students, NYU students, NYC Ballet dancers, who lived in one of the Army’s women-only apartments, were fortunate to be able to turn to Victoria at any hour for guidance and support. Over the years she adored travel, especially to Paris, Aix-en-Provence and Venice. In her retirement, she moved to Norwalk to be with her son with whom she shared an incredible bond, strengthened in their mutual love of great conversation, food and old movies. There was no deeper love and ability to selflessly give than what Phillip gave to his Mom in their many years together. He is comforted by the thought of her with his Dad again, returning to build on the love and magic they shared together. Heaven is now graced with one more extraordinarily special woman, who will never be forgotten.