BRISTOL — Vivian Alice Call Weston passed away at home in Bristol, Vt., on April 21. She was predeceased by her parents, Frederick and Helen Call and two brothers, Frederick and Douglas Call. Her brother William Call, married to Vivian’s college classmate and pal Peggy, survives her and lives in North Carolina.
Vivian is survived by her husband, Kenneth Weston. Their 60th anniversary is in May; they were married in 1960 in Colrain, Mass. Vivian and Ken raised six children in Bristol: Craig Weston and wife Pat of Lyndonville; Sarah Weston Corporon and husband Steve of Ketchikan, Alaska with grandsons Weston and wife Vala and great-grandsons Shepard, Niles, Merek and Brandon; Helen Weston and husband Mike Isham of Williston and grandchildren Dana and Gloria; Miles Weston of Ferrisburgh and grandsons Jack and Henry; Alice Weston and husband Steve Rooney of Starksboro; and Carol Weston and partner Jean Goodwin of Bristol and Hubbardton.
Vivian also enjoyed spending time with numerous additional relatives living in New England. Carol has been a live-in caregiver for the last eight years, and the family recognizes and is grateful for Carol’s gifts of presence and love.
Vivian was born in 1933 in Colrain, Mass., the youngest child. She enjoyed competing against her brothers in outdoor activities, raising and selling vegetables, working at her father’s Gulf gas station, and caring for and riding the neighbor’s Morgan horses. In 1951, Vivian graduated high school from Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls, Mass., and went on to be a pioneer of women’s sports and feminism at the University of Vermont, serving as President of the Women’s Athletic Association, and graduating with a degree in medical technology in 1955.
She worked for a number of years in several hospitals, including in North Carolina and New York City, where she began her lifelong love for opera. After marrying, Vivian and Ken settled in Bristol and Vivian worked for a time at Porter Hospital, and then worked with her husband Ken in the field for their land surveying business. Vivian often said she had admired the view east to the valley between Deer Leap and Bristol Cliffs on her commutes on Route 7 from Massachusetts to UVM, never knowing she would later live there.
Vivian and Ken raised their children in Bristol. They enjoyed attending their children’s various sporting and musical events. Vivian played the trombone, and she and Ken played in the Bristol Band since 1960. Vivian had lifelong interests in wildlife, geography and geology, and was a vegetable gardener, avid berry and apple picker, wonderful pie baker, and great at Scrabble.
She served as a member of the Lawrence Memorial Library Board, supported Hospice and the American Field Service student exchange program, and co-founded the Addison Otters, the regional youth swim team based at Mt. Abe High School. Vivian loved the water, and swam at the Mount Abe pool and in any body of water in warmer months. She enjoyed sitting in the New Haven River reading, and wandering the river looking for Jasper and bird watching.
In her later life Vivian was a bus driver for Mount Abe, driving to athletic events and on field trips. Vivian was steady and kind. No matter what she was doing, she did it with dignity, strength and warmth. She made many friends in her later years at Project Independence in Middlebury and enjoyed the socializing, activities and great food at Project. Vivian’s family also thanks Home Health and Hospice and Age Well for their care of Vivian, Ken and Carol, allowing Vivian to be home.
Vivian’s family will plan a memorial gathering for later in the year. Those who wish may make a memorial donation to Project Independence (112 Exchange Street, Middlebury, VT 05753) to support their wonderful programming for seniors in our community. To send online condolences to her family visit brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com.◊