Vivian was born just north of New York City in Poughkeepsie, NY. She had resided at Gaines Park Assisted Living in Kennesaw for the past 11 years. There she enjoyed many friendships with residents- as well as her care givers. She loved living in this caring Christian Assisted Living home. Vivian enjoyed all the activities that they offered until the very end. Many times Vivian played the piano for the staff and residents. Whether it was old hymns or show tunes Vivian could still play them from memory.
Vivian was married to William (Bill) Paradise for 59 years. She met Bill while she worked at Delaval Co. in Poughkeepsie. Bill was an employee of Sperry Gyroscope working on aircraft bombsights during the war. Shortly after they married, they moved to Madison, Wisconsin. After the war, they returned to Poughkeepsie where Bill got a job at IBM (I’ve Been Moved). They moved around to several U.S. cities- and even Paris France for a year. They moved to Georgia to be near their grandchildren in 1982.
Vivian grew up in Poughkeepsie and attended Vassar College. She also took piano lessons and excelled in playing. As a young girl she was asked to play piano for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She obliged and although nervous she played “Home on the Range”. When she got done and, ready to walk out, he asked if she would play it again. Dutifully, she sat back down and played it again. Nerves made it an interesting experience for her- and one she never forgot. Her grandmother performed at Carnegie Hall, so, the music talent went through her- and then stopped with her!!!
Bill preceded her in death in 2001. She had two sons, Richard who preceded her in death and Gary (Carol) in Marietta. She had two granddaughters- Kelly (Rob) Thomas and Lisa (Steven) Johnson. She also had 4 great grandchildren, Ian and Megan Thomas and Lynnsey and Sam Johnson.
