Vivian Lee Barrera

Vivian Lee Barrera nee Janezic, age 61, was welcomed with open arms into a new life with Angels on June 4, 2015. Vivian is survived by her husband of 38 years, Mike Barrera; children Miguel Barrera and Melinda Splitek (Andrew); father John (Mary) Janezic; siblings Mark (Anna) Janezic, Diana (Carlton) Brooks, Tina (Jeff) Goll, and Georgia (Rod) Lee; a grandson, Liam, and numerous nieces, nephews, God-children, in-laws, and close friends. Vivian was proceeded in death by her mother, Viola Janezic, as well as her beloved in-laws Filbert and Frances Barrera. Although born in Valparaiso, Indiana on January 3, 1954, Vivian was raised in the small Southern Arizona town of Saint David, Arizona. She met the love of her life working at the A&W Root Beer Stand in Benson, Arizona. She was a car-hop and he was soda jerk. After marrying in Tucson in January of 1977, they built a life in Phoenix where her days were filled with laughter and love. Together they danced through good days and bad. Vivian approached all that she did with kindness and compassion. On any given day one might find her in the kitchen baking cookies, or in her favorite chair with her faithful four-legged companion reading a novel, or in her home office where she successfully ran Barrera Financial Services for thirty years. As a business owner she made clients feel like friends and listened to her clients share their joys and their losses with an open-mind and a quiet heart. All who walked through her door were greeted with a smile and more often than not, a big hug that seemed to last just an extra moment so that you knew how genuinely happy she was to see you. Vivian was a lifelong learner and a spiritual person who was active in her church, St. Teresa of Ávila. Her strong faith and spirituality helped her navigate life’s challenges with dignity and grace. Vivian lived a life worth celebrating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to St. Teresa of Ávila Catholic Community: 12861 N 8th Ave. Phoenix AZ 85029. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday June 13, 2015 at 10 am at Shadow Rock United Church of Christ.