In Memoriam  ...  Vivian Priest:

November 27, 1927 – October 16, 2006

A wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, friend, round dance cuer, callers partner and a Very Special Lady!

 Viv passed away on Monday October 16, 2006 with her husband of 59 years (Lloyd) by her side.  Viv suffered a stroke in May of 2005 and had been in hospitals and institutions since.  In February 2006 space became available at the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans in Scarborough that would accommodate both Lloyd and Viv in a double room.  They were able to be back together again.  Something that made both of them very happy after being apart for almost 10 months.

Viv was a very special lady who had many interests.  I remember as a kid our house was always full of people - she liked to be surrounded with people.  On rainy days all the neighbourhood kids would come to our house and we would play Monopoly or Clue around the kitchen table… it was always fun.  My mom was a great lover of  jigsaw puzzles and when we were young there was always one on the go. When she finished one she really liked she would wallpaper the back of it to keep it together and then hang it on a wall somewhere.   In years gone by she was very involved in girls volleyball and bowling and of course her bridge club kept her active right into her later years.  My mother loved music, and her family.  She was always happiest when her house was full of family and friends.  Two of her greatest loves were her husband and dancing. 

Viv and Lloyd were involved in Square and Round Dancing for more than 43 years.  Lloyd was a Square dance caller for 40 years and Viv cued the rounds in their clubs.  Viv was involved in Square and Round Dancing for more than half her life.  Her dedication to the activity was solid.  They were active members of their local association, T & D, for over 37 years!  Viv organized and ran several fashion shows for the annual T & D Conventions and they served T & D in many capacities on the executive and convention committee. They also managed T & D’s business office for more than 17 years.    They hosted Square dance tours to various parts of the world.  Viv was never really comfortable on a microphone however she loved to be in crowds and just talk to people.  She was a great hostess.  For many years they ran their own New Years Eve dance which Viv catered herself ( with some help of course from family and a few close friends ).  And there was always that great wine and cheese party each year in their home between Christmas and New Years that all of their dancers attended.  They also ran many square dance weekends and special dances.  Often when Lloyd was calling at a festival, Viv would arrange for a bus to transport all their dancers to the dance – Oh those great bus parties on the way home!  In years gone by they used to organize and run car rallies.  These were a great hit with their dancers and they were followed with a pot luck supper and of course a dance.  Viv was a leader, an organizer and a doer.  She could always be counted on to help out in any way. 

Viv was outgoing - she knew how to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable and had a great talent for being able to speak to everyone in the room at any of their dances.  Viv was so good at this, in fact, that she gave “mingling” tips to many others to help them feel more comfortable in these situations.  My mother had a unique ability, in that she could sit beside a total stranger and inside of 15 minutes would know their life history.  She was a very personable, pleasant and nice lady who had smiling eyes and an infectious smile! 

In the “old days” there were many callers from various parts of the world who travelled to Toronto for the major dances.   I remember our house was “home” to many of these people as they came through the area.  Viv was always there to provide meals and a place to rest in our home to welcome these callers.

All of Vivian & Lloyd’s children, Janice (Terry Lee) Doug, Jeff (Andrea) and Jody have, over the years, been involved in Square dancing.   This was something my mom was very proud of.

The square and round dance world has lost another true gem.    I know that wherever you are, Mom, you have lots of friends and love around you as that is the way you like it!

You will be missed greatly by all those who had the opportunity to know you!  May your memory always be cherished.

Love,

Jeff