Violet Elizabeth Helen Bennett Maisenbacher

Violet Elizabeth Helen Bennett Maisenbacher was born on January 30, 1918 in Glasgow, Scotland to the late Peter Leslie and Jane Marjorie Bennett and died at John Knox Village, Pompano Beach, Florida at the age of 98 on March 17, 2016.

Preceding her in death in 1978, was her husband, the love of her life, Herbert William Maisenbacher, Sr. She is also predeceased by her 3 beloved sisters and their spouses; Lillian Leslie and William Sohler of Union, NJ, Marjorie Ann Steward and William Petuck of Union, NJ and half-sister Mary Jane Edson Gordon “Dolly” and William Coutts of Archiestown, Scotland.

Violet is survived by daughter, Susan Lynn and Dr. Jerry Harris Rosenbaum of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and son Herbert William Jr. and Patricia Helen Maisenbacher of Gainesville, Florida. Also surviving are grandson Dr. Herbert William III and Melissa Kimberly Maisenbacher of Virginia Beach, Virginia and their children, Herbert William IV aka “Will”, Elise Kirsten and Amalie Klaire and granddaughter Alexis Jo and Dr. Dustin Lee Kahoud of New York and their son, Roland James.

Violet, called “Vi” by friends and “Mom” by family came to the United States in 1924 from Glasgow, Scotland. Her mother, Jane, died in 1928 and she and her two sisters were raised by their father, Peter, in Newark, New Jersey. In 1938 she met her future husband and they married in 1942 and moved to Maple Avenue in Irvington, New Jersey where she and Herb raised their children. She was active in the Police Athletic League of Irvington helping to coach the Girls Basketball Team and chaperoning the Teen Dances.

Vi enjoyed bowling and gardening, producing some of the best currant berries for her jams and jellies. An excellent seamstress, she created award winning Halloween costumes, Mother and Daughter Easter outfits, prom and wedding dresses and draperies for her family. She was the original do-it-yourselfer with plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting and papering skills. She was happiest having a project to do.

Vi and her husband, Herb, attended Clinton Avenue Presbyterian Church in Newark, New Jersey and both were active members in the church’s Couples Club where her skills at sewing were evident in the Hula costumes and Purple People Eater theme costumes she created for their annual events. She also became quite skilled at the Hula, performing along with the other wives at several events.

In 1970, Vi and her husband moved to Biscayne Boulevard in Union, New Jersey. She enjoyed couples trips to Las Vegas to see Elvis Presley and traveled to Hawaii, Guam, Hong Kong and Thailand to visit her daughter. Herb died in 1978 and she maintained

their two family home while continuing to work for Gallo Wines of New Jersey until she retired in 1980. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren at her son’s summer home on the “Jersey Shore” and helping her son and daughter-in-law with many projects as well as time spent with her grandchildren.

To celebrate Vi’s 70th Birthday in 1988, her children and their families took her to Scotland to visit her childhood home. She visited with her half-sister Dolly on the family farm called “Carinvonie” in Archiestown. She recalled memories of throwing stones from a bridge over the River Spey as she walked over that very bridge.

Vi was very active in the Connecticut Farms Women’s Club as treasurer and won many awards for the Club’s Yearly Scrapbook as well as for her craft projects at the Annual NJ Women’s Club Conventions. She attended the Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church in Union, NJ.

Traveling with her sisters and their husbands brought her great enjoyment whether it was a Sunday afternoon ride, a car trip along the East Coast, sailing the Mediterranean or touring Mexico. She cared for her sisters in their later years greatly missing Lillian and Marjorie when they passed in 2000 and 2002.

In 2008 she moved to Fort Lauderdale to live with her daughter until her final move to John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2011. Living independently in Village Tower she enjoyed working on puzzles and in 2014 she transferred to the John Knox Health Center where she will be remembered as “strong willed Miss Violet” who loved chocolate, music, singing and always dressed in coordinated outfits with matching shawls.

Vi will especially be remembered by her son and daughter whenever their families start a do-it-yourself project or a sewing project as she took great pride in those accomplishments and she will also be remembered by her grandchildren as the “fun Grandma” because of her love of swimming and boating with them.

Private services will be held at a later date in Union, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Violet’s memory at the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, www.alzfdn.org.

Arrangements under the direction of Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.