Vivienne Joy Renaud Wiens

Vivienne was born in London, England, on July 21st, 1961, to Cyril and Marina Renaud. Her parents had immigrated to England from South Africa a few years earlier to escape the repression of apartheid. When Vivienne was 1½ years old her brother Brian was born.

When Vivienne was 5 the family immigrated to Canada, settling in the Montreal area. Vivienne's brother Eric was born a few years later. Her father, a sheet metal worker, worked for Air Canada. His employee passes allowed the family to travel to many countries for vacations.

When Vivienne was 12 the family moved to Surrey, BC, where she attended junior and senior high schools, graduating from grade 12 in 1980.

Vivienne accepted Jesus as her personal Lord and Saviour at age 13. A few years later she was confirmed in her faith at St. Cuthbert's Anglican church in North Delta. While at Trinity Western University she was baptised. Since that time she has led many children and youth to a personal relationship with Jesus, and mentored them in their faith.

Vivienne attended many post-secondary schools, including Trinity Western University, Columbia Bible College (where she obtained a Diploma of Biblical Studies, and later a Diploma in Early Childhood Education), Mennonite Brethren Bible College (where she graduated with a Bachelor of Religious Studies), Kwantlen College, and Langara College.

Vivienne met David Wiens at a singles volleyball night. They were married on October 12, 1996 at Willingdon Church in Burnaby, BC.

Over the years Vivienne has had many jobs and volunteer positions, but almost all involved working with children or youth: babysitting, day camps, pre-schools, daycares, VBS, Sunday School teacher, youth groups, camps, nanny, special needs support worker, etc. For the past 3 years she was the Director of the Covenant Kids Christian Daycare at Willoughby Christian Reformed Church in Langley.

Some of Vivienne's favourite things included the colour purple, anything with Winnie the Pooh or Tigger on it, anything with iris flowers on it, Precious Moments ornaments, angel ornaments, collecting dolls, and Christmas. Vivienne loved to play sports, and was on soccer and other teams in high school and college. Later she enjoyed playing slowpitch softball. Vivienne loved to travel to places such as Disneyland, and the Oregon coast. Vivienne also loved to cook and entertain at home, and many people, especially her husband, will miss her delicious meals.

Vivienne's father passed away in 2001, and her mother passed away 3 years later.

In the last several years of her life, Vivienne's health deteriorated, although she still worked full time at extremely demanding jobs. She was diagnosed with diabetes, was twice hospitalized for blood clots in her lungs, and was severely anaemic. She passed away suddenly at home into the presence of our Lord on March 14, 2011, from a pulmonary embolism.

She will be greatly missed by Dave, her husband of 14½ years, by her brothers Brian and Eric, her extended family (many of whom live in South Africa), many friends, and the hundreds of people of all ages whose lives she touched.

A Celebration of Life service was held on Friday, March 25th at 11:00 a.m. at Willoughby Christian Reformed Church, 20525 - 72nd Avenue in Langley. Arrangements were under the direction of Henderson's Langley Funeral Home, Langley, BC.