Vivian Kathleen Newman

March 18, 1951 – February 14, 2017

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Vivian

Kathleen Newman (née Carr) on February 14, 2017 at the Surrey

Memorial Hospital. Viv fought off metastatic breast cancer a

number of times over the last two decades, but it relentlessly

persisted in returning. Viva bravely never considered it to be

terminal; she lived with determination to enjoy life to the

fullest. Only retiring last October and even jet skiing and

para-sailing in Mexico just two months ago, she embodied

these ideals until the very end… Vivian passed away quietly

and peacefully Valentine’s evening, after being visited from all

the family.

Vivian was born and raised in Vernon, BC, and in keeping with her

Scottish heritage, became a Highland dancer and played the bagpipes in Vernon’s

MacIntosh Girls’ Pipe Band. After high school, Viv moved to Calgary where she worked

as an Executive Secretary in the oil industry. She would travel back to Vernon in the

summertime with a troupe of her Geologist friends for weekends of camping, sailing,

and water skiing at the family cottage on Okanagan Lake. Viv moved to the Coast in

the ‘80’s. After bringing up her family, she moved to Cloverdale where she worked as

a High School Career Development Practitioner. She had a passion for photography

and was a life-long photographer. As a member of photography clubs, her great eye

won prizes for her works of people, flowers, and nature at exhibitions throughout the

province. She was a professional wedding photographer and had a number of her

photos published in newspapers.

In her younger years, having been a Calgary JayCee’s Miss Pot O’ Gold helper ( a sort of

Stampede ambassador), Viv developed a taste for being ‘on stage’, which played out for

the rest of her days. She did not get to Hollywood to make it on screen and join the rich

and famous, but she did, however, very much enjoy being involved in the local theatre.

Viv was active in the Surrey Little Theatre, giving of her time, energy, and enthusiasm,

and also recently proudly co-directed her first play, “A Funny Little thing Called Love”.

Viva also loved to bake cupcakes, cook, host dinners, and throw parties, always up for

gathering people and creating fun. She was ‘Vivid Viva’ to more than just her email

recipients, always on the go and bringing her generosity, story-telling, uniqueness,

laughter, and delight to all who spent time with her.

Vivian will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her ex-partner Victor

Newman, her son Paul and daughter Diana, and her three brothers and their families,

Peter (Brenda, nephews Ian and Jonn), David (Emily), John (Lai-Fung, niece Meghan

and nephew Ted), and sister-in-law Susan Carr. She was predeceased by her parents,

Ethel and Jack Carr.

Cremation will precede a Celebration of Viv’s life, which will be held at

Clayton Heights Secondary School in

Surrey, BC on Sunday, March 5 at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to

Surrey Little Theatre: P.O. Box 34066

17790 # 10 Hwy

Surrey BC V3S 8C4