Vivian Ruth Haas

Vivian Ruth Haas was one of God’s most precious angels on earth, where our family was blessed to have gone through life with her. After a brief illness, surrounded by her family in her Tulsa home, Vivian passed into heaven on August 16, 2010, where she continues to be our guiding light through memories of her grace, beauty, serenity, kindness, and limitless love. As she lay dying, she reached up her frail little arms to her husband for embrace and said, “I love you more now than I ever did”. She was not afraid. Vivian was born in Elkhart, IN, on December 28, 1923, and moved to Tulsa with her family as a little girl. Tulsa was to become her lifelong home. She attended Tulsa public schools and graduated from Holy Family School shortly before World War II. During her time at Holy Family, she met the man who would become her best friend and lifelong love, Leo Haas. They began their courtship during the early years of the war as Leo traveled across the country for his Navy flight training, with their love growing via letters and brief periods of time together. In 1944, just before Leo’s last tour of duty overseas, they began married life together, from a distance. During the war, Vivian worked for Douglas Aircraft, while Leo was becoming a decorated bomber pilot in the Pacific theater. After completion of Leo’s military service at war’s end, they began the next phase of their life, with very humble beginnings in Tulsa’s Veterans Housing complex. Vivian had the voice of an angel to complement her inner and outer beauty. She was an opera singer in the early days of Tulsa television. During her time at Douglas, she and her sister Helen sang to the employees on lunch breaks, as well as on Tulsa radio. One of the simple joys in her life as a young mother was exercising her operatic voice at the open window over the kitchen sink while doing the dishes. Her voice was exquisite and beautiful. We loved it, as did our neighbors. In fact, we heard it so often we assumed all mothers sounded like that. It is one of many enduring memories we carry deep in our hearts. Her vocal talent stayed with her throughout her life. She sang the National Anthem at several TU basketball games in her 80’s. Even in her final days, she surprised her family with her ethereal, beautiful voice. Vivian’s vocation was nurturing her family, and we all agree that she did it perfectly. We believe the world would be a better place if every child had the opportunity to spend their years with a mother like our mother. It was her life’s work. Vivian retained her outward beauty throughout her life, but our memories revolve around her inner beauty, her selflessness, her capacity for love, her wonderful sense of humor, and her kindness to all lucky enough to know her. And, the many pets in her life looked at her through the same loving eyes as did her husband and children. Vivian’s hobbies included a lifelong passion for TU football and basketball, beginning during the time Leo spent on the pre-war TU football team. She was an early member of the Tulsa Figure Skating Club with her husband and daughters. She was a member of the Junior Assistance League, the TU Alumni Association, and a volunteer coordinator for Tulsa’s Showcase of Homes. She enjoyed skiing, tennis, caring for her many puppies and kitties, and riding on the back of Leo’s Harley. She also loved the camaraderie of her husband’s annual WW-II bomber squadron reunions. Vivian has been an active member of the parishes of Holy Family, the Church of the Madeline, St. Pius X and Christ the King in Tulsa since 1940. Vivian is survived by her husband of 66 years, Leo Haas Jr.; her son Leo F Haas III and his wife Linda of Tulsa, her daughter Charlotte Lazar of Tulsa; her daughter Suzanne Adair and husband Mike Adair of Sapulpa, OK; and her daughter Sheri Viola and husband Mike Viola of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Vivian’s grandchildren and great grandchildren brought enormous joy into her life. They are: Lori Bundy and husband Troy of Tulsa and their children Emily and Haley; Jeannie Ross and her husband Bret of Broken Arrow and their children Conner and Allyson; Susan Jinright and her husband David of Austin, TX and their daughter Evie; Lance Spellman and his wife Marla of Dallas, TX and their children Lauren and Derek; Kristi Miers and her husband Sheppard Forrest Miers, III of Tulsa and their children Sheppard IV and Vivian; Cody Williams of St. Louis, IL; Shannon Williams of Phoenix, AZ; and Amanda Viola of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Vivian is also survived by her sister Helen Griffin and brother Robert Funk of Tulsa. Vivian was preceded in death by her parents Lucile Funk and Harold Herbert Funk, and her grandchild David John Spellman. Vivian’s family encourages her friends to contribute to their favorite charitable foundation in her memory. Visitation will be 10 am - 5 pm, Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at Fitzgerald’s Ivy Chapel. Vivian’s rosary will be held at the Fitzgerald’s Ivy Chapel on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 7:00pm, and her funeral mass will be conducted by Rev. Msgr. Gregory A. Gier, at Holy Family Cathederal on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 10:00am. “Vivian, it seems like so long ago we fell in love. But it is today, and it is tomorrow, that we fall in love all over again. I am somewhere in between until I next hold you in my arms. I love you dearest heart”.

Vivian Ruth Haas

December 28, 1923 - August 16, 2010