Vivian Womaski, age 103, of Oshkosh, died Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, at her home of 67 years. Born Sept. 29, 1914 in Benton Harbor, MI to Charles and Lucy Miller, the family moved, and she attended high school in Muskegon, MI. Vivian graduated from Michigan State University, with a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics.
On Dec. 21, 1946, she married Anthony J. Womaski of Oshkosh, whom she met while they taught radio fundamentals and transmitters during WWII at Army Air Forces Radio School at Truax Field Air National Guard Base, Madison, WI. They were blessed with adopting two girls, Jeanne and Anne, and Vivian loved supporting their activities and was a Camp Fire Girls leader and helper for them. Many friends of the girls were invited for dinner and were introduced to their first tastes of various vegetables and other foods.
She was a member of the Faculty Dames, 21st Century Club and a gourmet club for many years in the 60's and 70's. She learned to ride horses in college and looked forward to her riding group at Irvine's Morningside Stables. Vivian was an accomplished seamstress and although she was legally blind, she would sew everything from Barbie doll clothes to winter coats. She was well known for her millinery collection which she happily wore daily to deflect the sun. She loved going to and hosting tea parties and was well known for her exquisite etiquette.
Other than her family, Vivian's greatest love was the opera. She was a season ticket patron at the Lyric Opera of Chicago for over 40 years, and the Met when they appeared in Minneapolis. Up to age 95, she would take the Greyhound Bus to Chicago, taxi to attend the opera, then manage the public transit system to Jeanne's home in the far western suburbs at 11:30 PM. Vivian also thoroughly enjoyed being a world traveler, particularly to Italy, but visited most of Europe and China, Russia, Egypt, and Japan. She was 94 at her last trip to Italy, with a daughter, where several women rented a villa in Tuscany.
Active within two weeks of her death, she was a member of AAUW for almost 70 years, Fireside Antique Club, Red Hat Society, and the Oshkosh Public Museum Auxiliary. The kindergarten students at Read School had adopted her at age 100, as a neighbor, Granny, and pen pal and she visited when possible and loved to receive birthday wishes and other communications from them.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony (1979), son-in-law Dennis Tondryk, grandson Scott Worman, two brothers Lyle and Keith Miller, and their wives, Clare and Eina and a sister-in-law, Celia Miller. Vivian is survived by her daughters, Jeanne Tondryk and Anne (Daniel) Long, both of Oshkosh, and one brother, Dale Miller (age 93), Coloma, MI, many nieces, nephews, their spouses and children. She will be sorely missed by her Siamese cat, Mei Mei.
A memorial service for Vivian will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 12 PM at Seefeld Funeral Home, 1025 Oregon St., Oshkosh, with Fr. Bill Van De Kreeke officiating.