Vivian Tamulis Milner

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Vivian Tamulis Milner, a resident of Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, died Thursday, March 29, 2018, at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse after a brief illness.

Vivian was born May 27, 1927 to Viva and John Tamulis in South Philadelphia.  She attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School and Fleisher Vocational School where she trained to be a seamstress. She married Harry Kenneth Milner, January 25, 1947.

Vivian lived in the Rhawnhurst section of Philadelphia before retiring to Port Norris, New Jersey, and eventually Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania.  She traveled extensively in the United States, Europe, Ireland, Japan, Australia, South America and enjoyed visits with special friends in Arizona, California, and England.

For many years she had her own home in The Pocono Mountains, affectionately named, “Serenity.”

Vivian worked at Columbia Pictures and Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania, but her real passion was creating Prom dresses, Wedding gowns, Christening gowns.  She quilted, embroidered, did needlepoint, crocheted, knitted and could talk patterns and fabric for hours. She nurtured her gardens and potted plants and always had cut flowers nearby.

She was an avid reader, a member of numerous Book Clubs. She talked books with anyone interested, happily gifted and swapped books.  Viv especially enjoyed the twice weekly visits with Meals on Wheels volunteers who brought not only food, but laughter, books, travel photos and enduring friendship.

Vivian was an active volunteer from her youthful days of serving with the Rhawnhurst Volunteer Ambulance Corps, through special jobs as an “RSVP” in Cumberland County, assigned projects ranging from protecting Delaware Bay beaches for migrating birds to ushering for concerts at the Community College.

In later years she especially enjoyed her weekly Knitting Group, Short Story Book Club and monthly Senior Luncheons with the Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment. Wherever she lived, she joined Historical Societies, Garden Groups, Book Clubs, always making friends and exploring new interests.

Vivian is survived by many of those who loved her: her husband of 71 years, Harry Kenneth of Wyndmoor, her beloved daughter, Maureen Alexander of Philadelphia, her daughter-in-law Kathryn Doyle and Kathryn’s children, Kiaran Leary and Jamie Leary.  She leaves behind two sisters, Eileen Mackin of Sicklerville, New Jersey, and Patricia O’Brien, of Philadelphia.  Wonderful nieces, nephews and their families scattered all over the United States will miss their Aunt Viv.

She is preceded in death by her beloved younger brother, John Tamulis, Jr. A Memorial Mass was held at Sacred Heart Church, 1404 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147, on Saturday, April 7, 2018.  Internment is private.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to CHMOW, 1710 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031.

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