In loving memory of Vivian Halpeny

7/11/1929 - 9/13/2016

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Visits: 3,916

Vivian I. Halpeny, 87, passed away peacefully at her home-away-from-home (Pristine Senior Care Riverside, Cincinnati, Ohio) September 13, 2016. In typical Vivian style, she managed to pack her relatively small room with enough clothing and provisions to circumnavigate the earth - on foot - at least twice. Her collection of lighthouses, jewelry, stuffed animals and odd knickknacks would make Amazon blush; and made her accommodations feel as close to her beloved Covington, KY home as possible. She always joked that living in her senior care home was like being on a vacation you could never come home from and thus, managed to display and store as many of her favorite treasures as possible. Trust me when I say, this gift of display, storage and organization is something few have witnessed. She knew instantly when something was moved a mere centimeter from it's original position. The maintenance staff installed more shelving in this one room than the entirety of the rest of the building in order to properly display Viv's treasures, and for that we are genuinely grateful. She was an amazing Mother and Grandmother born on July 11, 1929. One of four daughters of the late Charles and Lillian Gillespie; she leaves behind her sarcasm, friends, senior care staff and family who genuinely adored her. Vivian was well known for her smile, wit and her jewelry. While far from vain, Mother took great pride in her appearance, dutifully applying makeup and her jewelry each day. As we plan on gifting her makeup and much of her jewelry to her friends at the facility - rest assured the ladies of Pristine will look beautiful for years to come.

Viv also had an amazing ability to jumble pet names with reckless abandon. It took nearly seven years for our family Corgi's; Shifter and Sprocket to be properly called their names and not "Scissors and Robot". She was a devote republican, except for that "one time” she voted for a Kennedy. Mother enjoyed music, notably Enya and the Pet Shop Boys. Her favorite song was "Go West" - although I never had the heart to tell her it was not about the Gold Rush. Had I told her, she wouldn't have minded as she was open to all people regardless of affiliation. Mother loved to volunteer and spent notable time in the office at St. Augustine School in Covington and the “snack shack” at her care facility. She was also a proud and vocal member of the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association. Vivian loved her Cincinnati Reds and drinking coffee. Last but not least, Vivian loved to walk. I mean she really LOVED to walk. She steadfastly refused to possess a driver’s license or own a vehicle. Solely utilizing her feet and public transportation to reach her intended destination. While admirable now (as an adult writing this) it was an absolutely agonizing childhood experience. Every trip felt as if we were Sherpa's assisting climbers ascending Everest. As a 7 year-old, we once walked to Beechmont Mall in late autumn. In the rain. At the time I was sure it took four or five days, but my memory has clouded since. I neither forgot nor forgave her for that particular trip (or for missing multiple episodes of ‘The Monkees’ as a child due to us traversing the continent on foot). She will be forever missed and is survived by her children: Jennifer (Huber) and Geoffrey (Gulley). Her daughter-in-law: Elizabeth Cameron Gulley and her beloved grandchildren: Jordan (Huber) and Quinn and Maeve (Gulley). She was preceded in death by her sisters: Betty, Nancy and Muriel and husband #1 that she didn't like to mention, husband #2 Edward (Bud) Gulley (our Dad), and husband #3 Owen Halpeny, but who's counting? Our mother disdained fanfare so in lieu of a service the family will celebrate her life privately this Autumn in the Great Smoky Mountains, a season and place she loved. I'm also quite certain it's somewhere we walked to as children. We love and miss you Mom, and I forgive you for that mall trip. xoxo.