Vivian Billi

Vivian immigrated to America and bravely mastered a new language before dedicating her life to helping others do the same.

After arriving to the United States, she met and fell in love with her future husband Renato Billi. Together they had two children, Riccardo and Denise.

Teaching was her true passion. She was a graduate of Montclair University where she received a Bachelor's degree in education.

She spent most of her career at Cliffside Park High School, where she shared her love of culture by teaching Italian and Spanish.

Deeply involved in her community, Vivian was an active member of the Melbourne Italian American Club and volunteered her time teaching English to Italian immigrants and Italian to English speakers.

Outside the classroom, Vivian embraced life with vibrant energy. She was an avid traveler who loved exploring the world with her friends. Every summer, when the kids were young, she looked forward to school breaks when she would return to her roots and vacation with her family in Italy. Vivian had a deep love for music and dancing, and she could always be found as the very last person to leave the dance floor.

Her dedication to education, her cultural pride, and her joyful spirit will be deeply missed by her family, former students, and

friends.

She is survived by her son Riccardo Billi, daughter Denise Powitz, grandchildren Christina Billi, Brian Powitz, and James Costanzo. She is also survived by her siblings, brother Mario Mazzola and wife Ann, sister Anne Varco and partner Ken, and an extended family.