Vivian D'Elia

Vivian Harris D'Elia Monroe, New York Vivian Harris D'Elia died on August 23, 2014 in Margate, Florida. She was 85 years of age. For the past two years she resided in a nursing home in the state of Florida while she bravely battled Alzheimer's disease. Prior to that, Vivian had lived in Monroe for over sixty years. Born to a coalmining family in West Virginia in the year 1929, Vivian was the daughter of the late Kathleen and Herbert Harris and was one of six children. She met Francis D'Elia when he was employed as an engineer in Powellton, West Virginia and they were married on December 18th, 1948. Fran died in November, 2001. Vivian was an artist and one of the founders of the Schunnemunk Art Guild and a member of the Orange County Watercolor Society. She was President of the Orange County Art Federation for three years, and hosted a weekly cable TV Show called the Art Scene while she was President of the Federation in the 1970's. Vivian was a long-time member of the community who was involved in many activities. She was an excellent seamstress who made all of her own clothes and she taught sewing in the 1960's in the Co-Op extension program. She was involved in fund raising, especially for Arden Hill Hospital in the 1960's and 1970's and she also volunteered as a "Pink Lady" in the hospital. She was Chairman for fund raising with the Cancer Society in Monroe in the 1960's and she was a trustee responsible for fund raising for Harriman College in the 1970's. She was a spiritual soul who was involved with several local churches and she sang in the church choir at Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Monroe throughout the 1960's. She loved people and had numerous friends and was a great hostess who loved to entertain in her home. She was an avid gardener and grew beautiful flowers; many of her paintings were inspired from her wonderful flower arrangements. She loved music and would sing and play on her organ or piano almost daily. She loved children and they loved her, she would often be seen playing with children and she was a loving "Nanna" to her two grandchildren. Vivian will be missed by all who loved and knew her. Vivian is survived by her children, sons Gerry D'Elia of Park City, Utah; Brian D'Elia of Boca Raton, Florida and her daughter, Vivian D'Elia of New York City. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Kristyn D'Elia and Gabriela D'Elia. She has one surviving sister, Marvetta Dahir who resides in Newport News, Virginia. A Life Celebration will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2014 during the hours of 11 AM to 1 PM at Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc. located at 139 Stage Road, Monroe, New York 10950. Interment will follow at Orange County Veterans Cemetery 111 Craigville Road, Goshen, NY 10924. Memorial contributions made in Vivian's name to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 would be greatly appreciated by her family. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Thomas F. Flynn and the staff of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc., 139 Stage Road, Monroe New York 10950. To offer an online memorial please visit www.flynnfh.com