Vivian K. Spiese
Over the course of her working life, she received numerous awards in recognition of her tireless efforts on behalf of persons with mental illnesses and their families.
Vivian’s Celebration of Life service will take place at First Reformed Church, Lancaster, on May 24, Vivian’s 99th birthday, at 2:00 P.M.
Her ashes will be interred in First Reform’s “Memory Garden” with those of her husband, and daughter Cheryl.
Vivian K. Spiese, Conestoga, passed away Saturday morning, May 3rd, at the age of 98 after a brief illness. Her long life was one of service to her family, community, and church. Born Vivian Kline in Lancaster, she spent her early years living in Mt. Joy before her family moved back to Lancaster, and then to Columbia, where she met her future husband, Nathan “Al” Spiese. They eventually settled in East Petersburg, and lived there for nearly forty years, raising five children during this time.
A life-long United Church of Christ member, she held numerous governance positions within the church, and also became a trainer and youth worker. Gifted with a beautiful soprano voice, Vivian sang in the church choir for many years.
In the 1970s, Vivian began her professional life as a teacher in Lancaster’s Head Start day-care program. She attended college part-time, earning credits at Franklin & Marshall and Cheyney State University, and concentrated in Early Childhood Development at Millersville University. She became center director in The Head Start program, serving in that position for fifteen years.
In the 1980s, Vivian turned her considerable talents and energy to advocating for people with mental illnesses and their families, continuing these efforts well into her 90s, only retiring two years ago. It would be impossible to overestimate the number of individuals and families whose lives she changed through her advocacy and education efforts. In 1988, she became president of the Lancaster Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and continued to serve in that organization, as well as in the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), as either an officer or board member, nearly until her passing. As Director of Affiliate Relations for NAMI of Pennsylvania, Vivian coordinated the annual state conference, handled the membership process, and visited with local affiliates to provide support and education. Additionally she spoke at state Forensic and Case Management conferences on the family experience with mental illness, and appeared on local and regional television programs.
In 1997, Vivian was named Special Assistant for NAMI Pennsylvania, where, in addition to numerous other responsibilities, she presented at workshops and trainings for police departments, prison staff, and all the district justices of Pennsylvania – anyone who might come into contact with persons suffering from mental illness, who so often end up in the legal system with no support or advocacy.
Vivian finished her long career as a Special Assistant at the Family Training and Advocacy Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she prepared curriculum materials, presented at workshops, and participated in the training of mental health professionals. Over the course of her working life, she received numerous awards in recognition of her tireless efforts on behalf of persons with mental illnesses and their families.
Vivian was preceded in death by her husband of fifty years, Nathan E. “Al” Spiese, and two siblings, Lloyd Kline of Newark, Delaware, and Evelyn Rodkey of Columbia. She was also preceded in death by two daughters, Cheryl and Tonya. Her surviving children are, Stephen (Margaret Whorl) of Columbia; Timothy (Hilary Byerly), Pequea; Monica, Conestoga; Michael, Conestoga, with whom she resided; and Julio Nieves, Lancaster. She is also survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Vivian’s Celebration of Life service will take place at First Reformed Church, Lancaster, on May 24, Vivian’s 99th birthday, at 2:00 P.M. Her ashes will be interred in First Reform’s “Memory Garden” with those of her husband, and daughter Cheryl. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her honor be made to NAMI of Pennsylvania.
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