It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved mother, Vivian Lois Kurtzner Westwater on Sept. 30, 2015.

Vivian was born in Union, New Jersey, on Aug. 9, 1933, and spent her youth growing up with her sisters, Carol Lindner and Joann Righetti. After high school, she went to Boston University where she met her soul mate, Gordon MacMillan Westwater. They married and settled in Millis, Massachusetts. They spent their life raising their family in Millis and had a special bond with the Millis community.

Vivian worked in the Medfield, Mass., school system for many years as a kindergarten teacher, a profession that suited her perfectly.

Their faith was very important to them. She and Gordon were actively involved in the Church of Christ Congregational church in Millis, Mass. In their later years. They spent their winters in Ft. Myers, Florida, where they became a part of the Sanibel United Congregational Church and the Palmetto Palms community. They were married for over 50 years until Gordon’s passing on Dec. 5, 2005. Vivian moved to Bedford, NH, to be close to her children and joined the church community at Bedford Presbyterian Church.

Vivian lived life to its fullest and touched so many people’s lives. She had a gift of making all who she encountered feel like they were special and important. She loved working with and inspiring children. Nothing brought her more joy than being "Grammie" to her seven grandchildren, Daniel, Sarah, Craig, Alana, Alyssa, Ryan and Matthew.

She joins her husband, Gordon Westwater; son, Gordon H. Westwater; mother, Elizabeth Kurtzner; father, Harry Kurtzner; and sister-in-law, Nancy Westwater and her multitude of friends who have passed on.

She leaves behind her daughters, Laurie Tyer and Beth Nowell; and son, David Westwater; her sons-in-law, Jim Tyer and Andrew Nowell; her daughter-in-law, Mary Westwater; and her sisters, Carol Lindner and Joann Righetti and their husbands, children, grandchildren and relatives.

Visiting hours were at Roberts-Mitchell Funeral Home. 90 Curve St. Millis on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 4-8 PM. Funeral services are Friday, Oct. 9, at 1 PM at the Church of Christ Congregational, 142 Exchange St., Millis, MA 02054. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Millis Church of Christ music program.