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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 9, 2019 at 9:30AM from the funeral home, then to Annunciation RC Church, 45 Urban Club Road, Wayne, where at 10:30AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Vivian DiPietro, age 73, of Paramus and formerly of Haledon and Wayne, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2016. She was an extraordinary mother, grandmother, and special friend to countless who will forever be inspired by her radiant smile, win against any odds spirit, and give-all approach to life.
Vivian was born Vivian Marchiano in Brooklyn, NY where she was raised and where she graduated from Bay Ridge High School. After graduation she worked for a time as a secretary on Wall Street before marrying and moving to Paramus where she raised her two children, Chuck and Vicki. With a love-of-life attitude she lovingly cared for her young children and they have fabulous memories of a mom who, amongst countless other things, could do amazing things with wooden spoons. Of course, while she used the spoons to cook and wasn’t above using them on occasion to discipline, it was the way Vivian could play Simon and Garfunkel’s 1970 hit Cecilia with the spoons, and how she could wrap one in tin foil and give it to her daughter Vicki and have Vicki sing along with Barry Whites 1974 hit You’re the first, the last, my everything, that gave you just a little sense of what made her such an unforgettable mom.
As the kids were growing up and attending elementary school, she met Lois Friedman, another school mom, while the two were serving together on the school’s PTA. To say the least, this encounter spawned a life-long friendship.
A true entrepreneur and visionary - qualities Vivian shared with Lois, the two eventually became business partners. They started companies including Classic International Management Corporation, First Impression Talent Management Corporation and First Impression Promotional Products. Vivian believed in the time-tested adage that “You never get a second chance to make a First Impression.” Extremely persistent, hard-working, and detail oriented – the paper clips in her desk stood at attention when she opened the drawer – Vivian and Lois enjoyed great success in their business endeavors.
Vivian was a member of the Preferred Stock Networking Group, the Specialty Advertising Association of New York and the Third Thursday Ladies Club (TTLC).
The success was great! But it was Vivian’s work as cofounder of the Columbia University Colleen Giblin Foundation, providing funding for the advancement of research on childhood neurological diseases, and serving as Co-President of Hackensack University Medical Center Tomorrows Children’s Fund, a loving organization founded to help children with cancer and serous blood disorders, that meant the most to Vivian!
Best friend Lois and her husband Eric Friedman and their children Amy and Todd became family to Vivian and her family. They treated each other’s kids as if they were their own and they all did life together. Thanks to God’s protection, their kids can have wonderful memories of traveling to Florida and Canada all together in a thirty-six-foot Winnebago and Vivian and Lois taking turns driving but literally never stopping the vehicle to change drivers! Instead they traded seats as the multi-ton motor home careened at high speeds down the highway.
Vivian loved to cook and was excellent at it! Her son Chuck’s favorite was her veal parmigiana, her daughter Vicki’s favorite was her St. Joseph’s Pasta – a recipe handed down from Vivian’s great grandmother, and everyone else’s favorite was her linguine with clam sauce. Vivian loved music and her favorite song – Forever Young by Rod Stuart, summed up the way that she viewed her life. She also enjoyed the simple things of life like having a cup of tea with her daughter Vicki and singing Sonny and Cher’s I got you babe together. She loved the sun and surf and consequently, while Punta Cana and beaches in Italy were among her favorites, Vivian really never found a beach she didn’t like. She and her girlfriends escaped there often. One of those friends was Patricia Mikel, a woman Vivian met while trying to get her foot in the door at Kings Supermarkets where Pat was an executive. Pat finally gave Vivian a chance because of Vivian’s relentless persistence. Another great friendship was born. During a weekend at the beach, between Vivian, Lois and Pat, all the world’s problems could be solved. Yes, they did business deals, but at the end of the day, the most important aspect of their relationships were simply the time spent being friends.
Despite all of her accomplishments, Vivian was deep-down-inside old school Italian. She had a sincere faith in God and attended mass regularly at Annunciation RC Church in Wayne for numerous years. At the end of the day, it was her family that she held closest to her heart and she had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. At least twice a year Vivian would fly to Chicago to visit grandchildren Rachel and Daniel for their birthdays. When visiting, she always brought two suitcases for them, one filled with food and one filled with clothes. Vivian was always giving granddaughter Rachel encouraging advise. While Rachel was pursuing her master’s degree in biology, Vivian loved coaching her about how to present and carry herself and how to be a great communicator. No one had a relationship with grandson Daniel like Vivian. Daniel’s autism left him low functioning and non-verbal, but Grandma Viv connected the deepest with him. When he had back surgery, she stayed with him while he was at Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House to recuperate. Daniel knew that no one treated him like Grandma V. She also loved attending granddaughter Giana’s plays and she was always encouraging her toward a fashion career. She’d say, “Follow your dreams and always keep looking up!” Giana surely had some of her grandmother’s blood in her. She made all the costumes for the school play. And then there was grandson Justin. Justin liked to play football and Grandma V loved to cheer him on. She’d tell him “You’re my champion!” and she’d say, “Now go kick some A#$!”. It seemed to have paid off because Justin’s team, the Galloway Renegades were three-time champs.
Vivian will truly be remembered in a unique way by each person whose life path crossed with hers. She had an inspiring and motivating energy and all who knew her could not help but be drawn to her. It’s not that she didn’t have challenges in life. It’s that she was resilient through those challenges that was such an inspiration and she always conveyed that with positivity. The word “can’t” just didn’t exist in Vivian’s vocabulary. She used to say, “We don’t say can’t!” At the end of the day, she will be remembered for the genuine love she showed to truly anyone she met. She treated everyone like they were a CEO and she never asked for anything from anyone but she always gave of her own time, talents, and treasures to help.
Vivian is survived by her two adored children: Victoria “Vicki and husband Bill Curcio of Galloway Township, and Charles “Chuck” and wife Lisa DiPietro of Chicago, IL; her four cherished grandchildren: Rachel and Daniel DiPietro, and Gianna and Justin Curcio; best friend Lois and husband Eric Friedman and their children Amy and Todd, and Amy’s children: Alexa, Blake, Harley, and Logan; and her dear Maltipoo puppy dog Bella.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Vivian’s memory, are asked to consider Tomorrows Children’s Fund, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601 (www.tcfkid.org)
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 9, 2019 at 9:30AM from the funeral home, then to Annunciation RC Church, 45 Urban Club Road, Wayne, where at 10:30AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 from 4-8 PM.
Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 9, 2019 at 9:30AM from the funeral home, then to Annunciation RC Church, 45 Urban Club Road, Wayne, where at 10:30AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Vivian DiPietro, age 73, of Paramus and formerly of Haledon and Wayne, passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2016. She was an extraordinary mother, grandmother, and special friend to countless who will forever be inspired by her radiant smile, win against any odds spirit, and give-all approach to life.
Vivian was born Vivian Marchiano in Brooklyn, NY where she was raised and where she graduated from Bay Ridge High School. After graduation she worked for a time as a secretary on Wall Street before marrying and moving to Paramus where she raised her two children, Chuck and Vicki. With a love-of-life attitude she lovingly cared for her young children and they have fabulous memories of a mom who, amongst countless other things, could do amazing things with wooden spoons. Of course, while she used the spoons to cook and wasn’t above using them on occasion to discipline, it was the way Vivian could play Simon and Garfunkel’s 1970 hit Cecilia with the spoons, and how she could wrap one in tin foil and give it to her daughter Vicki and have Vicki sing along with Barry Whites 1974 hit You’re the first, the last, my everything, that gave you just a little sense of what made her such an unforgettable mom.
As the kids were growing up and attending elementary school, she met Lois Friedman, another school mom, while the two were serving together on the school’s PTA. To say the least, this encounter spawned a life-long friendship.
A true entrepreneur and visionary - qualities Vivian shared with Lois, the two eventually became business partners. They started companies including Classic International Management Corporation, First Impression Talent Management Corporation and First Impression Promotional Products. Vivian believed in the time-tested adage that “You never get a second chance to make a First Impression.” Extremely persistent, hard-working, and detail oriented – the paper clips in her desk stood at attention when she opened the drawer – Vivian and Lois enjoyed great success in their business endeavors.
Vivian was a member of the Preferred Stock Networking Group, the Specialty Advertising Association of New York and the Third Thursday Ladies Club (TTLC).
The success was great! But it was Vivian’s work as cofounder of the Columbia University Colleen Giblin Foundation, providing funding for the advancement of research on childhood neurological diseases, and serving as Co-President of Hackensack University Medical Center Tomorrows Children’s Fund, a loving organization founded to help children with cancer and serous blood disorders, that meant the most to Vivian!
Best friend Lois and her husband Eric Friedman and their children Amy and Todd became family to Vivian and her family. They treated each other’s kids as if they were their own and they all did life together. Thanks to God’s protection, their kids can have wonderful memories of traveling to Florida and Canada all together in a thirty-six-foot Winnebago and Vivian and Lois taking turns driving but literally never stopping the vehicle to change drivers! Instead they traded seats as the multi-ton motor home careened at high speeds down the highway.
Vivian loved to cook and was excellent at it! Her son Chuck’s favorite was her veal parmigiana, her daughter Vicki’s favorite was her St. Joseph’s Pasta – a recipe handed down from Vivian’s great grandmother, and everyone else’s favorite was her linguine with clam sauce. Vivian loved music and her favorite song – Forever Young by Rod Stuart, summed up the way that she viewed her life. She also enjoyed the simple things of life like having a cup of tea with her daughter Vicki and singing Sonny and Cher’s I got you babe together. She loved the sun and surf and consequently, while Punta Cana and beaches in Italy were among her favorites, Vivian really never found a beach she didn’t like. She and her girlfriends escaped there often. One of those friends was Patricia Mikel, a woman Vivian met while trying to get her foot in the door at Kings Supermarkets where Pat was an executive. Pat finally gave Vivian a chance because of Vivian’s relentless persistence. Another great friendship was born. During a weekend at the beach, between Vivian, Lois and Pat, all the world’s problems could be solved. Yes, they did business deals, but at the end of the day, the most important aspect of their relationships were simply the time spent being friends.
Despite all of her accomplishments, Vivian was deep-down-inside old school Italian. She had a sincere faith in God and attended mass regularly at Annunciation RC Church in Wayne for numerous years. At the end of the day, it was her family that she held closest to her heart and she had a special relationship with each of her grandchildren. At least twice a year Vivian would fly to Chicago to visit grandchildren Rachel and Daniel for their birthdays. When visiting, she always brought two suitcases for them, one filled with food and one filled with clothes. Vivian was always giving granddaughter Rachel encouraging advise. While Rachel was pursuing her master’s degree in biology, Vivian loved coaching her about how to present and carry herself and how to be a great communicator. No one had a relationship with grandson Daniel like Vivian. Daniel’s autism left him low functioning and non-verbal, but Grandma Viv connected the deepest with him. When he had back surgery, she stayed with him while he was at Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House to recuperate. Daniel knew that no one treated him like Grandma V. She also loved attending granddaughter Giana’s plays and she was always encouraging her toward a fashion career. She’d say, “Follow your dreams and always keep looking up!” Giana surely had some of her grandmother’s blood in her. She made all the costumes for the school play. And then there was grandson Justin. Justin liked to play football and Grandma V loved to cheer him on. She’d tell him “You’re my champion!” and she’d say, “Now go kick some A#$!”. It seemed to have paid off because Justin’s team, the Galloway Renegades were three-time champs.
Vivian will truly be remembered in a unique way by each person whose life path crossed with hers. She had an inspiring and motivating energy and all who knew her could not help but be drawn to her. It’s not that she didn’t have challenges in life. It’s that she was resilient through those challenges that was such an inspiration and she always conveyed that with positivity. The word “can’t” just didn’t exist in Vivian’s vocabulary. She used to say, “We don’t say can’t!” At the end of the day, she will be remembered for the genuine love she showed to truly anyone she met. She treated everyone like they were a CEO and she never asked for anything from anyone but she always gave of her own time, talents, and treasures to help.
Vivian is survived by her two adored children: Victoria “Vicki and husband Bill Curcio of Galloway Township, and Charles “Chuck” and wife Lisa DiPietro of Chicago, IL; her four cherished grandchildren: Rachel and Daniel DiPietro, and Gianna and Justin Curcio; best friend Lois and husband Eric Friedman and their children Amy and Todd, and Amy’s children: Alexa, Blake, Harley, and Logan; and her dear Maltipoo puppy dog Bella.
In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Vivian’s memory, are asked to consider Tomorrows Children’s Fund, 30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601 (www.tcfkid.org)
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