Vivian Eileen Abma

Vivian Eileen Abma (née Jessup), born August 9, 1932, passed away on March 8, 2026. She was a woman of boundless warmth, music, and quiet strength whose love shaped everyone around her.

Vivian was the beloved daughter of Clifford and Pearl Jessup, whom she deeply admired. She was the cherished sister of Gwen and Pat, and was predeceased by her sisters Vira and Betty, and her brothers Vernon, Murray, and Gary.

As a single mother of four at a time when her circumstances were often misunderstood, Vivian worked full-time as a dental hygienist while devoting herself completely to her children’s happiness. She learned to drive later in life to ferry them to distant practices, stayed up late helping with homework, and never missed a parent-teacher meeting. Despite early setbacks, including being refused a credit card, she carefully maintained a home filled with beauty, always ensuring a vase of fresh flowers graced the dining table. She eventually purchased a house with five brightly decorated bedrooms for her family. Vivian treated her children as trusted friends, facing life’s challenges with kindness, a radiant smile, and a wonderful sense of humour. She filled their home with Broadway melodies, lively conversations about books and art, and created a welcoming space where friends always wanted to gather. She loved watching basketball with her sons, shared vivid stories of her childhood at Jessup’s Lodge on Watabeag Lake in Northern Ontario during the Depression, and found deep peace in the water, whether floating on a quiet lake or riding gentle ocean waves.

As “Granny,” she brought magic and joy to her grandchildren, teaching them kindness, how to play a spirited game of cards, and how to embrace life fully. She is survived by her children Sandra, Peter (Pat), Marie (Dike), and Stephen (Dawn), her grandchildren Luke and Daniel (Caitlin), Cary (Amanda), Cameron (Mei Yin), Kaitlin (Patrick), and Hayley, and her great-granddaughter Myla. Vivian left behind a lasting legacy of love, resilience, and gentle strength.