Vivian Ann Carpenter Griepenburg
Born January 26, 1942
Died October 25, 2023
A nursing graduate of Nazareth College, Vivian worked in the field of rehabilitation nursing for many years and counseled people through difficult life and health transitions. She cared passionately about her clients and their abilities to lead full and rewarding lives. Vivian finished her career as the manager of the nursing staff at New York State Insurance Fund. She was dedicated to the nursing team and had a lifelong commitment to continuous education, taking courses at Brockport and University of Rochester, and running many trainings to share knowledge with her team.
A proud “Adirondack girl”, Vivian retained strong ties to her childhood home of Inlet, NY, returning every year to the woods, mountains, and lakes of her upbringing to nurture her spirit. She introduced her family to kayaking, and participated in the Guiness World Book record “One Square Mile of Hope” charity event to raise money for breast cancer. Vivian passionately loved flower gardens, and she cultivated blooms in the gardens of her Pittsford home and her Adirondack camp through every season, starting with the earliest crocuses that would bloom across the lawn in the early spring.
Vivian was a voracious reader, book collector, and a strong supporter of the Pittsford Library. She combined her love of literature and care for community as a reader for Reachout Radio. She was a lector at St. Mary’s church in Rochester NY and also attended her home parish of St. Louis. Vivian had an abiding love of the ocean and spent many happy times with her family on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina, Panama City Beach, and in later years, Sandwich, Massachusetts on Cape Cod.
Vivian enjoyed many activities throughout her life. She was a pioneering jogger, tennis teacher, Tai Chi student and practitioner, cross country skier, and a member of the Silver Sneakers activity group. Her love of sports and zest for competition extended to rooting for many team games, following her children in myriad sporting activities, and boisterous cheering during Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres games.
Vivian is predeceased by her parents Alfred “Carp” Carpenter and Margaret “Marge” Carpenter. She is survived by her devoted and loving family, husband James V Griepenburg, her son James Alfred Griepenburg, her daughter Anne Margaret Griepenburg, Anne’s partner Susanna Bohme, family dog Woody, honorary kids Barbara Adams and Quentin Spiegel, treasured connections Deb Malkin and Jody Wheat, cousin Ed Doughty and beloved extended family across the US, family friends Diane and Don Stebbins and family, and dear longtime friends Mary Ann Newland, Lani Bauer, and John and Kathy Conti.
Vivian was a breast cancer survivor, and courageously fought her lung cancer diagnosis for years, and the Griepenburg family would like to give specific thanks to the care teams at Strong oncology and inpatient at Highland Hospital. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Lollypop Farm at https://www.lollypop.org/ or the cancer organization of your choice. Vivian’s laugh and loving spirit has blessed us for so many years and we wish her memory to continue to bless others.
My condolences to the Griepenburg family. I knew she was a great person because I saw how she raised such beautiful human beings like my friend and co-worker,”Jimbo” and his cool sister, Anne. I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Greipenburg at SIF through Jimbo, and immediately felt a wonderful spirit about her, and witnessed her warm, humorous smile. Life well done, Mrs. Griepenburg….Well done.
My deepest condolences to my dear friend & coworker James. Who I called Jimbo. May the LORD give you peace, comfort & strength. Your Mom raised a strong & awesome man in you. You’ve many of her qualities. I met your Mom once at State Insurance Fund . She was very warm & kind. May you & your family remember all the wonderful memories. May you continue some of her work to study of cancer. May the love of the ocean bring you smiles of her. You’re in my prayers Jimbo.
Deepest Sympathy and Condolences to the Griepenburg family for their loss of their mother, Vivian. It has been an honor to have been introduced to her during the time she worked at the N Y S Insurance Fund. Every time I had the opportunity to meet her, she has always been very pleasant to converse with. May the memory of her be forever treasured. May she Rest in Eternal Heavenly Peace.
We knew Jim and Vivian through their camp in Inlet, NY. She and Kaye Gribneau were the best of friends. Always hanging out with the Gribneau’s at their house. She was always so delightful to be with and always had a kind word for everyone. She will be missed by us during the summers, stopping by to talk or to go to the lake to go kayaking. God bless her family as they cope with their loss. Please keep us posted on her memorial service in the spring.
My sincere condolences to the Griepenburg family. As was Vivian’s nature, she was always concerned for her family’s health and happiness. Two of the traits I liked most about Vivian were that she was a great listner and she was very empathetic. Vivian cared about people and it showed in her professional work as a rehabilitation nurse. I first got to know Vivian while working at the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board as the vocational rehabilitation counselor. Vivian was clearly in the upper echelon of vocational rehabilitation nurses. After a group of us attended a John Denver concert in the 1990’s, Vivian said “You know, he is very spiritual”. That is how I would describe Vivian, she was a very spiritual person. God Bless Vivian and her family.