Victoria Diana Ricardo passed away Monday, October 29, 2007, after her courageous battle against lung cancer. She was 64 years old.

Born January 20, 1943, to John and Vilma Guidi in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, she lived in several countries including England, Italy, and Scotland before coming to the United States in 1963. She lived in New York where she worked in her parents' restaurant. There she would later meet her future husband, Noe Ricardo. They were married on September 10, 1970, and a year later their son Erik John Ricardo was born. In 1973, they had a daughter Noelle Diane Ricardo. They moved to Ellenville, New York, where they resided until September 1985, when they moved to California to join Victoria's sister and mother who resided in Santa Barbara. She relocated to Lompoc in 1987.

Victoria was employed by Santa Barbara County as a nursing assistant until her retirement ten years ago. She attended La Purisima and Queen of Angels Catholic Churches. With a gift of compassion, she loved caring for and comforting others. She spoke three languages and could often be heard singing folk songs and lullabies to her grandchildren in English, Spanish, or Italian. In addition to spending time with her grandchildren, her passions were cooking, animals, reading and traveling. She especially enjoyed visiting her sister who now lives in Nevada.

Victoria is survived by her children and their spouses, Erik John and Michelle Ricardo of Lake Arrowhead, and Noelle Diane and Jason Barthel of Lompoc; her sister Lilli Schell of Henderson, Nevada; four grandchildren, August Ricardo, Colby, Hunter and Brooks Barthel. Her husband Noe preceded her in death in 2002.

The memorial service will be on Friday, November 2, 2007, at 3:00 pm in the chapel of the Starbuck-Lind Mortuary conducted by Pastor Bernie Federmann. The inurnment will follow in the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.