Vivian Semian, 90, of Fort Mill, S.C., passed away at her new home at Terra Bella Assisted Living Community in Mooresville, N.C.
Vivian was born on December 29, 1933, in Blakley, Pa., daughter to the late Aurelia (Mazzacco) and Alfonso Pazzaglia. She received her associates degree from Keystone College. She was married to her best friend and love of her life, Michael Semian, for 64 years at the time of his passing in 2022. Before moving to Fort Mill 10 years ago, Vivian and Mike lived in Syracuse, N.Y., Lexington, Ky., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Clifton Park, N.Y.
Vivian was first and foremost a proud mother and homemaker for 20 years raising her two children. However, she would never leave her time idle. She was an executive assistant for the director of the General Electric Apprentice program in Syracuse, when she was first married. After raising her children, she returned to the workforce as a nursery school teacher, which she found very rewarding. She had a special place in her heart for every child she ever met. After that, she did various office work until it started getting in her way of playing golf. Vivian was an avid golfer and bowler, but she loved attending all different types of sporting events, especially watching the horses run at Saratoga Racetrack. Vivian was the recipient of the “Pinnacle Going the Distance Award” in 2013 in recognition of her 25 years of charity work co-chairing an annual golf tournament along her husband to benefit the American Cancer Society in Saratoga Springs. She also ran a smaller golf tournament to benefit “Rally for the Cure” to support breast cancer research. Ahead of her love of golf was always her love of family gatherings. She would often host holiday celebrations and special occasions, bringing her extended family or friends together whenever possible. In the last 10 years, Vivian made several close friends at her Sun City home and thoroughly enjoyed all types of social activities with all of them. Vivian was a parishioner of her local Catholic churches wherever she lived, with her most recent being Saint Philip Neri Church in Fort Mill, S.C.
Survivors include daughter Lisa and husband Gary Schmitt of Mooresville, N.C., and son David and wife Jackie Semian of York, S.C. Also surviving are her brother Rinaldo and wife Carol Pazzaglia, her sister Linda and husband John Sheehan, as well as eight nieces and nephews. Vivian was predeceased by her sisters Delores Ploskonka and Jean Tarolli.
Services will be private for the immediate family.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be sent to VIA Health Partners, the Hospice & Palliative Care of Lake Norman Chapter at [email protected] or The Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607-1435. Correspondence for the family can be sent to Lisa Schmitt’s attention at PO Box 5181, Statesville, NC 28687.
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