Obituary for Vivian Iona Pearce
Vivian Iona Pearce, 87, Died April 3, 2022, in Colorado Springs
Vivian was born Nov. 22, 1934, to Anna Foley and Harry Love in Bayfield, CO. She and her brother John moved around a lot when younger because of her father’s career in the coal mines and her mother’s work as a nurse. She graduated from high school in Durango and married Jim Pearce in 1953 in Durango, CO. They moved to Alamosa, CO, where Jim’s career as an engineer with the Denver & Rio Grande Western and Southern Pacific Railroad took them and further moved to Pueblo, CO, Salida, CO, and back to Alamosa.
Vivian worked since she was a teenager and was successful at many jobs as a carhop, elementary school teacher aide, seamstress at Weiss Cleaners, manager at Amaranth clothing store, and bank teller at SLV Savings and Loan and Rio Grande Savings and Loan in Alamosa. When Jim passed in November 2014, Vivian moved to La Junta, CO, in 2015 to be closer to family and enjoyed living at Senior Village Circle socializing with neighbors and watching the children play on the school playground behind her apartment.
Vivian is survived by her children Dianna Pearce-Fitzsimmons, Colorado Springs, CO; Mike and Barbara Pearce, Kingsport, TN; Cheryl and Tony Trujillo, Salida, CO; Janine Libby and Richard Vasquez, Rocky Ford, CO. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Chad Fitzsimmons, Meganne Warren, Matthew Pearce, David Pearce, Christopher Pearce, Carmen Trujillo, Lexi Trujillo, Richard Vasquez, Jr., and Martin Vasquez. Also surviving are 4 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law Joanne Brennan and Doris Pearce, Durango, CO.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, brother John Love, mother Anna and father Harry and special uncle Jasper Foley.
As per Vivian’s request, a private family service and burial will take place. The family requests no flowers or food; however, donations may be made to the Animal Humane Society or to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital and may be made in care of the funeral home office.
The family offers a poem in respect for our mother: My mother kept a garden, a garden of the heart. She planted all the good things that gave my life its start. She turned me to the sunshine and encouraged me to dream, fostering and nurturing the seeds of self-esteem. And when the winds and rains came she protected me enough, but not too much because she knew I needed to grow strong and tough. Her constant good example always taught me right from wrong. Markers for my pathway that will last a lifetime long. I am my mother’s garden. I am her legacy and I hope today she feels the love reflected back from me. – author unknown
Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa is charge of arrangements and online condolences may be offered at www.rogersfunerals.com.
Vivian was born Nov. 22, 1934, to Anna Foley and Harry Love in Bayfield, CO. She and her brother John moved around a lot when younger because of her father’s career in the coal mines and her mother’s work as a nurse. She graduated from high school in Durango and married Jim Pearce in 1953 in Durango, CO. They moved to Alamosa, CO, where Jim’s career as an engineer with the Denver & Rio Grande Western and Southern Pacific Railroad took them and further moved to Pueblo, CO, Salida, CO, and back to Alamosa.
Vivian worked since she was a teenager and was successful at many jobs as a carhop, elementary school teacher aide, seamstress at Weiss Cleaners, manager at Amaranth clothing store, and bank teller at SLV Savings and Loan and Rio Grande Savings and Loan in Alamosa. When Jim passed in November 2014, Vivian moved to La Junta, CO, in 2015 to be closer to family and enjoyed living at Senior Village Circle socializing with neighbors and watching the children play on the school playground behind her apartment.
Vivian is survived by her children Dianna Pearce-Fitzsimmons, Colorado Springs, CO; Mike and Barbara Pearce, Kingsport, TN; Cheryl and Tony Trujillo, Salida, CO; Janine Libby and Richard Vasquez, Rocky Ford, CO. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Chad Fitzsimmons, Meganne Warren, Matthew Pearce, David Pearce, Christopher Pearce, Carmen Trujillo, Lexi Trujillo, Richard Vasquez, Jr., and Martin Vasquez. Also surviving are 4 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law Joanne Brennan and Doris Pearce, Durango, CO.
She was preceded in death by her husband Jim, brother John Love, mother Anna and father Harry and special uncle Jasper Foley.
As per Vivian’s request, a private family service and burial will take place. The family requests no flowers or food; however, donations may be made to the Animal Humane Society or to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital and may be made in care of the funeral home office.
The family offers a poem in respect for our mother: My mother kept a garden, a garden of the heart. She planted all the good things that gave my life its start. She turned me to the sunshine and encouraged me to dream, fostering and nurturing the seeds of self-esteem. And when the winds and rains came she protected me enough, but not too much because she knew I needed to grow strong and tough. Her constant good example always taught me right from wrong. Markers for my pathway that will last a lifetime long. I am my mother’s garden. I am her legacy and I hope today she feels the love reflected back from me. – author unknown
Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa is charge of arrangements and online condolences may be offered at www.rogersfunerals.com.