Violet Mae Wiley

Violet Mae Wiley was born on October 20,1926, in Akron, Ohio. Her parents, Robert and Olga Mikalachki, immigrants from Serbia, supported their family of five during challenging times which included the Great Depression and WWII. Robert was a butcher, cook, cafe owner, and dabbled in other entrepreneurial endeavors including bootlegging. Four-year-old Violet sometimes sat on the tub hiding the bottled spirits to distract any curious authorities. Olga was a seamstress, a skill she passed to Violet, who would later sew countless prom dresses for her daughters and their friends and uniforms for ESHS pep squads.

After marrying in 1948, Violet and husband George resided in Columbus, Ohio, relocating in 1962 to El Segundo where Violet lived for the next sixty years. All holidays and special occasions were hosted at the family home. Thanksgiving was particularly memorable for the vast array of traditional dishes and homemade pies. Vi’s grandson, Chris Voegtli, ably assumed the role of chef in the last few years, always under Vi’s watchful eye. Vi loved to try new recipes, often adding inventive touches.

Violet’s life in El Segundo touched many people, beginning with her work as a playground monitor at the middle school, much to her daughters’ embarrassment. At the recreation park, Vi taught stitchery, macrame, and cooking to both youths and adults. For a time, Vi marketed her artistic creations in an area of the El Segundo Hardware Store which she named Vi’s Corner. She also drove the Dial-A-Ride and took the Senior Striders to the Strand for walks. Vi enthusiastically participated in the exercise along with the walkers. Vi played tennis with a passion. She was self-taught and demonstrated a strong serve and forehand, and very competitive spirit. She followed professional tennis, football, and basketball with great enthusiasm. She also loved horse racing. Some memorable birthdays were spent at Santa Anita Race Track with a large crowd of family and friends.

Vi was a voracious reader and a loyal supporter of the local library. She kept up with current events by reading the LA Times daily and the New York Times on Sundays. She remained a skilled crossword puzzle enthusiast throughout her life. She was not shy about sharing her opinions and observations about many topics.

Vi opened her home to friends, extended family, and foreign exchange students who came to El Segundo through the AFS program. There was always room at the table for more people and always plenty to share. Everyone felt welcomed by Vi’s hospitality and warmth.

Vi provided unwavering support and unconditional love to her family. She leaves daughters Kathleen, Cynthia, Emily, and Kim, and son, George. Her treasured grandchildren include Katie and Julianna Hunt, Chris and Lauren Voegtli, Andrew and Jack Morrow, Sam and Eric Long, and Grace, George, and Joe Wiley. Vi was also blessed with five great-grandchildren, with another arriving soon.

Her long life was a blessing to her family and friends, and to the community she loved so deeply. We celebrate Violet’s strength, zest for life, sense of humor, and generosity. We were fortunate to have her in our lives for so many years and will miss her every day. Should anyone wish to make a donation in Violet’s honor, please consider Friends of the El Segundo Library or Habitat for Humanity