Vivian Geraldine O'Brien

Vivian O'Brien

Vivian Geraldine O'Brien (Whited ) passed away peacefully on August 7th 2017 at Jennings Terrace Nursing Home in Aurora IL at the age of the 99.
Vivian was born at home the 8th child of 9 to William Whited and Kathryn Whited (Callahan) in the town of Medaryville IN, in Pulaski county. She was premature and her survival was uncertain. Her mother had the older siblings take turns holding her to keep her warm through the damp Indiana springs. When not holding her they would wrap her in a cigar box and place her on the door of the stove to keep her warm.
The family moved to Chicago after a fire at their Indiana home while Vivian was still a toddler. She grew up there through the depression making many life time friends and meeting Eugene O'Brien.
Vivian and Eugene O'Brien were married on November 30th 1941, 7 days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Eugene was drafted into the Army shortly after the birth of their first child Jeannie. Vivian helped her sister run a small neighborhood store while raising Jeannie until Eugene returned home after the war.
Vivian gave birth to 5 children, 2 daughters and 3 sons. While raising her family they moved many times helping to build or remodel most of their homes. She loved family and hosted many holiday and family parties. Vivian and Eugene enjoyed dancing and traveling after his retirement.
She enjoyed embroidery and helped making quilts for orphans with a club formed at Jennings Terrace Nursing by her and her daughter Jeannie.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband Eugene, son William and all of her siblings.
She is survived by daughter Jeannie (Dan ) Neupert, son Donald (Pat) O'Brien daughter Vivian O'Brien son John (Kim) O'Brien 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Vivian will be buried on October 7th with her son William next to beloved husband Eugene at Queen of Heaven cemetery in Hillside IL in a private ceremony.
We would like to thank the staff of Jennings Terrace and Harbor Light hospice for the care they provided at the end of her life.