Peter Viviano

May 3, 1927 – December 1, 2023

Beloved Husband, Dad and Grandpa

World War II Veteran

Peter S. Viviano was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 3, 1927, to Italian immigrants, the late Sam and Mary (nee Cusmano) Viviano. He was the eldest of their three sons.

Peter was exceptionally proud of his Italian heritage, but he was even prouder to be an American. He was a patriot through and through. At the tender age of 17 and during the height of World War II, he enlisted in the United States Navy. If you knew him, you would know the many colorful stories he told of his adventures in the Pacific Theatre during the war. He trained at Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. He was on three ships during his service, but his true joy was being a plankowner on the USS Point Cruz CVE 119. He attended several Naval reunions with other Point Cruz sailors, and he enjoyed every minute of it. Being in the Navy was truly the most memorable and pivotal time of his life.

After returning from the war, he went to the University of Detroit. He graduated with a degree in Economics. He began working as a stockbroker. He retired as Senior Vice President of Investments at the age of 73.

Peter met the love of his life, Charleen DeBuck and they married in April 1956. They moved to St. Clair Shores in 1957, they raised their four children together. Summertime was always the best time of the year for them as they loved to spend weekends at their beloved cottage on Lake Huron.

Peter was a very generous man and would do anything for his family. When anyone asked for help, he gave generously without hesitation. A man of strong faith, Peter prayed to God to save his oldest child when he was deathly ill from rheumatic fever. When his son survived, he promised God he would give a percentage of his income to charity – and he did. He gave generously to St. Jude’s Hospital and to the Capuchin Monastery in Detroit every year since.

Peter loved his wife, children, grandchildren, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions. He loved books & music and had an extensive library of both. He was a great cook and spent his retirement perfecting his homemade fettuccine and his famous pasta sauce known as “Grandpa’s Sauce.” Of course, he always loved a good dry Bombay martini!

He is predeceased by his parents, brothers Anthony and Philip. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years Charleen, his four children Salvatore M. Viviano (Violeta), Maria J. Parker (Daniel), Alicia Viviano Mandeville and Elena Viviano Hunt, Grandchildren Ray Viviano (Lauren), Arielle Viviano Sheard (Glenn), Peter J. Hunt and Theron J. Mandeville, sister-in-law, Catherine Viviano, brother-in-law, Clarence Cusmano and many cherished nieces and nephews.

A memorial visitation for Peter will be held Friday, December 8, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236, followed by a memorial service at 10:00 AM.