Vivian Mary Dobey, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, went to be with the Lord on Monday, March 2, 2020 in Columbia, Missouri. She died peacefully that evening with her husband of 65 years, Ronald Dobey, by her side after a long illness.
Vivian was born on January 17, 1930 in Bridgeport, Connecticut to the late William Matthew Kane and Mary (Fekete) Kane.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald John Dobey of Columbia, Missouri, sons Ronald John Dobey, Jr. of Rocheport, Missouri, John Darrell Dobey of Centennial, Colorado and Douglas William Dobey of Richmond, Virginia, daughters-in-law Tarilyn Sue (Starzinger) Dobey of Rocheport, Missouri, Marie Catherine (Cowhick) Dobey of Centennial, Colorado and Liza Corbett of Richmond, Virginia, granddaughters Allison Mary (Roberts) Burrier of Evergreen, Colorado, Erin Claire Dobey of Denver, Colorado and Harper Lee Dobey of Richmond, Virginia, grandsons John Starzinger Dobey and Colin William Dobey of Rocheport, Missouri and brother-in-law Russell Louis Dobey of Wilton, Connecticut. Vivian is also survived by several nieces and nephews including William Matthew Kane III of Grand Junction, Colorado, Breta Claire Kane of Estes Park, Colorado, Mary Kathleen (Kane) Pickering of BelAir, Maryland, Susan Eileen Kane of Centreville, Maryland, John Ernest Kane of Denver, Colorado, Pamela Maren (Dobey) Peters of Pomfret, Connecticut, Laura Kimbel (Dobey) Amicucci of Fairfield, Connecticut and Lisa Marie Dobey of Fairfield, Connecticut and great-granddaughters Margaret Frances and Penelope June Burrier of Evergreen, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Helen Dobey of Bridgeport, Connecticut, older brother, William Matthew Kane, Jr. and sister-in-law, Shirley (Steves) Kane of Hays, Kansas sister-in-law Marie Emily (Gobeil) Dobey of Rowayton, Connecticut and by her nephew, Daniel James Kane of Clay Center, Kansas.
Vivian became a registered nurse after graduating high school from Lauralton Hall in Milford, Connecticut and St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing in Hartford, Connecticut. She held various positions in her life-long profession in Bridgeport, Connecticut until she married Ron. In 1972, Vivian returned to geriatric nursing in Fairfax, Virginia when Ron, Jr. began college and worked as a nurse until her retirement. Vivian met her future husband while working in Bridgeport and they were married on April 24, 1954 at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
She became active in the altar guild, as an acolyte mother and parish visitor at their church in Virginia which became their home in 1964 and her family’s life was centered by their faith for the remainder of her life. Vivian, having been born to wonderful parents, building a strong, loving marriage, with all the extended families that became part of hers and the friends she made throughout her life, knew how blessed she was and came to realize that the many blessings in her life stemmed from the knowledge that Jesus had died for her sins and earned her a place in heaven.
Vivian loved her career in nursing and will always be remembered both in her career and her personal life as a very giving person, continually putting the needs of others before her own, making newcomers feel welcome and living a life of service to her family, her friends and her God. During her life, she was an active volunteer both in and outside of the church, serving as a den mother when her sons were in Cub Scouts and supporting their advancement through Boy Scouts, volunteering at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg and at both Truro Episcopal Church and Trinity Episcopal Church, the family’s parish homes in Virginia. She was loved and admired by all whose lives she touched and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
A celebration of Vivian’s life will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 3pm at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia. Visitation by family and friends will be between 1pm and 3pm immediately preceding the service.
The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, friends consider making a memorial contribution in Vivian’s name to Calvary Episcopal Church (123 South Ninth St. Columbia, Missouri 65201) or Trinity Episcopal Church (825 College Ave. Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401). Vivian’s ashes will be placed at Trinity Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia at a later date.