Vicki Lynn Piha Ashberg died Friday, February 2, 2007 surrounded by her loving family after a two-year battle with kidney cancer. She had just celebrated her 44th birthday.
Vicki was born on January 23, 1963 in Seattle. She graduated from Sammamish High School in 1981 and Western Washington University in 1986, majoring in Speech Communications. Early in her career, she enjoyed working at Nordstrom Bellevue, where she met many of the close friends that she kept until her death. She also worked side-by-side with her father and brother as a property manager and marketing director at Morris Piha Real Estate Services.
Vicki met Jay Ashberg and they married on October 17, 1999. She gave birth to their son, Mitchell Jack, on November 13, 2002. “Mitchie” was the joy of her life. In Vicki’s own words, being a mom “was the best job I ever had.” Vicki was a loving and phenomenal mother.
Vicki exuded grace, style, class, generosity and genuine beauty inside and out, which was evident by the number of friends that surrounded her in the last few months. Her priorities in life were her son, husband, family and friends. Sunday was her favorite day of the week, calling it “family day.” Her relationship with her parents, sister and brother was like no other.
Vicki was unbelievably courageous in her two-year fight with a very painful and scary cancer. She never gave up, getting out of bed everyday to face life’s challenges, despite being handicapped with severe pain in her spine.
Vicki is survived by her parents Marlene and Morrie Piha; husband Jay; son Mitchell Jack; best friend and sister Ricca (Billy) Poll; brother Sandy (Lesley) Piha; grandmother Rita Calderon; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.
Funeral services were held at Sephardic Bikur Holim and attended by nearly 1,000 of her family and friends. It was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful and beloved woman. Donations can be made to City of Hope, c/o Dr. Robert Figlin, Kidney Cancer Research Program, 1055 Wilshiret Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017.
Vicki Lynn Piha Ashberg
