Vivian Adolphson Obituary

Amesbury, Massachusetts, Vivian A. Adolphson, residing at Amesbury Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, died there, Tuesday, August 3, 2010. Her husband, Gilbert H. Adolphson, died in 1990. Vivian A. Fairbank was born at Fort Dearborn Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, May 3, 1916. She was the great granddaughter of Charles Treudt of Hennepin, Illinois, one of the first volunteers to serve on the northern side in the Civil War. Her adolescent years were spent in West Chicago, Illinois with her parents, James Fairbank (the town's postmaster) and Pearl Maiden Fairbank. Shortly after the passing of her father, the family relocated to Maywood in 1929. Vivian was a Silver Medal scholar, graduating from Proviso Township High School, in 1934. She was headed for college, but the lingering pressures of the great economic depression, caused her to change plans, and instead, worked to help support her mother and stepfather. She became an employee of Public Service Company, where she met Gilbert H. Adolphson. The two were married in 1937, and resided in Bellwood until 1944, when they purchased a home in newly developing Broadview, Illinois.Vivian thoroughly enjoyed being a homemaker (cutting and sewing curtains for the new house) and cooking and entertaining. She was a troop leader for the local Brownie - Girl Scouts, and in later years, a long-time Deacon in her church (Broadview Community Church). She was also office manager for the local State Farm insurance agents, Ken Swanson, and later, Clarence Semcheck. Always civic and community minded, Vivian was an avid worker for Ronald McDonald House. Summer vacations were enjoyed in the Wisconsin Dells, where she played golf, and enjoyed boat rides with her family on the beautiful Wisconsin, to the Stand Rock Indian Ceremonial. Her 1934 Proviso year book, described Vivian as "Gentle in personality and conduct," an image that described her well. She lived in the house she loved - the very same house in Broadview, that she and her husband purchased in 1944 - for a total of 65 years. Vivian leaves a son, Steven J. (Judith) Adolphson of West Newbury, Massachusetts and a daughter, Lee (William G.) Kirkwood of Johnson City, Tennessee; and 3 grandchildren, Lucy Caroline Adolphson of Portland, Maine, Susan (Andrew) Kirkwood Ward of Knoxville, Tennessee and Elizabeth Kirkwood, also of Knoxville.A Memorial Service will be held Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 10 A.M. at the Community Presbyterian Church Broadview, 2000 West Roosevelt Road, Broadview, IL 60155 (708/343-3304). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ronald McDonald House, P.O. Box 7002, Hines, IL 60141; 708-327-2273.