Vivian K. Fersch

Vivian K. Fersch, of Kinnelon and formerly a longtime resident of Little Falls, passed away with her loving family by her side on Monday, June 13, 2022, exactly 73 years from the day she entered this world.

The fifth born child of Vincent and Mary (Melus) Vivinetto, Vivian grew up in Passaic and graduated from Passaic High School with the Class of 1967.

After high school, Vivian secured a job as a medical receptionist with a local Passaic doctor. Vivian had a tender heart for all the patients and, working side by side with the doctor, you could almost say that she was the forerunner of the present-day physician’s assistant.

Vivian was the beloved wife of Anton Fersch. They met each other via a blind date which took place at the President Palace in Passaic and together made a beautiful pair.  They married on Saturday, June 15, 1974 at Holy Trinity R.C. Church in Passaic and had a reception at the same place they first met – The President Palace, fittingly located at 115 President Street in Passaic.

As newlyweds Vivian and Anton embarked on a journey and adventure of love together, hand in hand. Their first home was a two-family house on 179 Ackerman Avenue in Clifton. Anton and Vivian lived downstairs and Vivian’s mother lived upstairs. About a year after getting married, they were blessed with their firstborn, a baby boy which they named Anthony James. Anthony was soon joined by a little sister named Melissa Mary. In 1979, the family moved to 240 Cedar Grove Road in Little Falls and there Vivian remained until two months ago when she moved to Kinnelon.

Devoting herself to the loving nurture of her children, Vivian left her medical receptionist position and focused all her energy on being a great Mom. She gave her kids precious childhood and adult memories like swimming in the town pool in Fairfield, family trips to Florida and St Thomas, playing sports with Anthony in the back yard, going on a Caribbean cruise with Melissa, going for rides together to nowhere in the car, and enjoying the longstanding tradition of being together on Christmas Eve. One of the greatest gifts Vivian “brought to the table” was her great cooking. Family favorites included her roll-up lasagna, chicken cutlets, and, to satisfy her husband Anton’s German palette, her homemade Kielbasa. Vivian put her great cooking skills to use as assistant head cook at Clifton High School and later as head cook at Clifton’s Christopher Columbus Junior High School. During her 25 years as a school cook, Vivian provided delicious lunches always making it her mission to lovingly make sure that less fortunate students were provided the best of nutritious food. Concurrent with blessing the school children, she also tenaciously advocated for her fellow workers by getting involved and ultimately becoming president of the Clifton New Jersey Education Association Cafeteria and Transportation Workers. She was a Godsend helping to make sure that those coworkers received the fairest salaries, benefits, rights and privileges.

Vivian was a pro at keeping herself busy and in her spare time, she always managed to find fun ways to entertain herself with the simple pleasures of life. She loved to go food shopping, especially to Shop Rite in Little Falls but, always out for a good deal, she’d shop at other food stores too. Any time she could be with her best friend Janet was to Vivian, a great time! Vivian and Janet enjoyed many a trip to visit Janet’s brother in Daytona Beach, Florida, and they loved to check out the great bargains or browse together at different shops. Vivian also found the simplest joy in being with her daughter, Melissa, and son in law, Sean, and being around them made her so happy.  From the time she was a young lady, she held a soft spot in her heart for numerous dogs and even one cat throughout her life. First there was Judy, then her cat named Cali, then more dogs – mostly rescue dogs and Pitbull mixes including Tilli Mae, Blaze, Max, Bella, and Dunkin. Most recently, she fell in love with Little Jack, her grandpup.

Ask her family to describe Vivian and they would use words like kind, selfless, gentle, loving, motherly, determined, a bit stubborn, energetic, a hard worker (“don’t hire someone if you can do it yourself”), and easy to adore. She truly lived her life by the time-tested reality that it’s better to give than to receive. As a young woman in her twenties, this philosophy inspired her to be a teacher of Confraternity and Christian Doctrine (CCD) by teaching communion classes with love and kindness at Holy Trinity Church in Passaic, and for numerous years she was a caregiver of a child with special needs who loved and adored her.

Surely, Vivian’s brother James best summed up her life when he described her as follows:

“Our family and friends have been blessed to have Vivian in our lives. She was a loving and compassionate mother, caring and faithful sister, a tender and nurturing aunt, and a most loyal friend who has truly been over the years, our ‘Rock’.  To all the other souls Vivian has known throughout her life, she has touched them in her actions and deeds with a righteousness and devotion of love from our God in following and belief in His teaching. In the words of the holy bible, ‘Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least Brothers and Sisters of Mine, you did for Me! Well done Vivian, good and faithful servant!’ We will always love you and remember your kindness and gentle love. In our hearts and in our dreams and when we as family come together, we will always remember and cherish your kindness and gentle love.”      

Vivian was the beloved wife of Anton “Tony”, blessed in marriage for over 25 years until his passing in 2001. She was the loving mother of Anthony James Fersch of Kinnelon, and Melissa Mary and husband Sean Mirrer of Wayne; dear sister of James and wife Rosemary Vivinetto of Flanders and dear “Aunt Viv” and “Aunt Vivie” to her nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her grandpup Little Jack and granddaughter, who will enter this world in a few months.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Vivian’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959

(www.stjude.org)