Vivian Bernadine Nowak

Vivian Bernadine Nowak was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 8, 1921, and died peacefully in Phoenix, Arizona on January 18, 2016. Between those dates was a life well lived, independently, happily and lovingly. She always said that second after the births of her children, her greatest accomplishment was owning “Vivian’s”, which was one of the first, if not the first, ladies clothing boutiques in Chicago. She was ahead of her time, showing by action and example what an independent woman can be, and passing that on to her children. She was very proud of that business, and it started her on a lifelong path in women’s fashion sales. Owning a business while having two, then three children could have meant being an “away” mom, but she wasn’t. She shared equally and happily in the raising of her children with her husband Leonard. She has always taken great joy in her children, being a part of all their childhood activities, supporting their endeavors, and loving them unconditionally as they grew to adulthood. The move to Phoenix in 1958 meant giving up her business, but she did it gladly for the well-being of her family. While she never opened another business, she continued working in fashion in Phoenix and Scottsdale until she retired. She filled her retirement with dolls and miniatures, card clubs and friends. She and Leonard always enjoyed traveling, first taking trip after trip with three children in tow, then when both retired, traveling around the country to visit friends and family and any point of interest along the way. She always said that God had a plan, and that her name was written in THE book, and when it said her time was up, it would be. And now it is. She is survived by her children, Lee and Mark, and her grandchildren Joshua and Hillary, and her great granddaughter Haley, the new love in her life, and by family and friends across the country. She will now join her beloved husband and son Wayne in a place much better. She will be as missed as she was loved. Services will be held at St. Francis Xavier Church, 4715 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix on Friday, January 22, 2015 at 1:30PM, visitation will begin at 1:00PM. Interment will be private.