Vivienne Bartels

Vivienne Bartels, age 74 years, of Pennington, NJ, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell, Hopewell Township, NJ.

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 24, 1945, Vivienne was the oldest of six children: George, Trevor, Billy, Patsy and Elizabeth. Extremely close with her mother, Cecilia Newburn, and father, George Hunter, she helped her mother with parental duties for her younger brothers and sisters and learned much about life in that role: it helped unlock her keen ability to care for others under all circumstances.

Growing up in a home with six children, there was no discretionary income to be found. However, the Hunter home was consistently filled with love and optimism, despite it being a tumultuous time in Northern Ireland.

To help provide for her family, she left for London when she turned 18 to look for work. She began by taking various small jobs over the course of that first year and soon she would, along with several of her friends, find wonderful opportunities to be governesses for affluent families in the United States.

Emigrating in 1967 to the United States, she became a governess for the Shack family on Long Island. She raised the family’s two children with the same love and tenderness, which she was becoming known for.

In a governess relationship at that time, one would come over and spend one year with all expenses paid by the family, coupled with a modest salary.  At the end of that first year, the hosting family would pay your plane ticket back, or you could stay. Vivienne was asked to stay as her personality and care was much appreciated by the Shack’s and she continued to be a governess for another four years.  Mr. Shack would later give Vivienne away on her wedding day.

During this time, she was consistently sending money home to Belfast to help her mother and father. On a trip back home during this period, Vivienne saved the rest of her money and purchased a washing machine for her mother to help her not have to wash clothes by hand, a big deal at the time but most appreciated by her mother and her large family.

In 1969, she met a man named George Bartels and they started dating. Marrying in 1971, the couple then bought their first home on Long Island in New York. She would also meet her best friend and partner in crime, Mary Tuminello, during this time. They have been close friends ever since.

In 1973, George received an opportunity to further his career at Pfizer by opening several new manufacturing plants in Puerto Rico. At the age of 28, the young couple relocated to Puerto Rico where Vivienne’s role included supporting George by entertaining many of business clients. It was through this “work” that she befriended many people in Puerto Rico and subsequently many of the wives of George’s business associates. It was through these relationships that Vivienne honed her cooking skill set, which would become a passion for the rest of her life.  Her cooking brought smiles to many which often trumped the thrilling conversations and laughter.

In 1974, they moved back to Long Island where their first child, a son, Andrew George Bartels, was born in 1975.

In 1976, George was reassigned to Boston, MA for a promotion and the couple settled on the North Shore in the town of Boxford. Of all the many places Vivienne lived, this was by far her favorite.

In 1978, Vivienne and George had their second child, Christine Jenifer Bartels. So happy to have a healthy son and daughter, she truly felt her life was complete.

In 1980, George was again relocated to Pfizer Corporate in NYC, NY, at which point the family moved to Weston, CT. It was in Connecticut where Vivienne started to work with the elderly by being an aide to a lively and lovely woman named Mrs. Woods. Having a keen ability to connect with anyone, especially the elderly, Vivienne provided Mrs. Woods and all those she cared for with the respect and the assistance they needed, while also having many a laugh together. She was also an active den leader in Cub Scouts and Brownies with her children during this period.

In 1985, the family moved to Readington, NJ, when the family purchased a small pharmaceutical packaging company with Vivienne as Vice-President.  She had a very active role in different capacities at the company while continuing to raise her two kids. She truly was “Superwoman” in every sense of the word. Her dedication and wise moves were key to the business’s success in the early years. It is important to note that no matter what roles she took on during her kids’ early childhood, she ensured that she would always be home for them after school for snack time and help with homework.

In 1991, Vivienne separated and later divorced George and moved to Three Bridges, NJ, where she started to work with the elderly again as a home health aide with Visiting Health and Supportive Services in Flemington, NJ. She instantly became part of her patients’ families, keeping in touch with some of them until days leading up to her passing. Her dedication wasn’t just seen by her family as she was awarded the ‘Home Health Aide of the Year’ in 1992, an honor she held so dear, akin to having her children. Taking care of others was her life’s calling and this was not work to her; so, despite her humility, she proudly inspired many by earning this honor.

In 1995, Vivienne purchased her first home and moved to Forest Drive in Flemington, NJ. She was very proud of this property, as all could see with a notably immaculate lawn and seasonal flowers and shrubs groomed to perfection. If you were lucky enough and drove by any time in October, you’d see a Christmas tree glowing through the windows. Truly reflective of Vivienne’s love of the holidays.

In 2000, after her youngest child Christine graduated Penn State and moved on with her adult life in NYC, Vivienne was quite happy to enjoy a simple life on her own. She loved being with her friends, reading, listening to Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline, watching British dramas, and giving back to the community. She was well known in the town of Flemington, always bringing a hearty smile to familiar faces she’d see, often at Shoprite preparing a feast for the next time her children would come home to visit with their friends. No one ever left Vivienne’s house hungry!

As an empty nester, Vivienne loved to have fun.  She loved traveling to The Parx Casino with her friends, Mary and Delores, taking a cruise to the Caribbean and a flight to Branson, MO with Mary, spending time at her kids’ houses with her friends up in Maine and at the NJ shore, as well as taking a trip back to Northern Ireland with Mary in 2015. It was very hard for Vivienne to sit still.

In 2007, George Bartels passed away and Andy took over the family businesses. This was and would be a continuation of several proud moments for Vivienne, seeing her son continue to innovate and expand a business so near to the family’s heart and livelihood.

In 2012, Christine brought a man named Dominic Dorman home to meet her Mom. For Vivienne, she knew this was to be the man Christine would marry. Dominic and Vivienne became fast friends and had an everlasting bond; he was never a son-in-law, but rather another son.

In 2014, Vivienne downsized and moved to Pennington Point, a senior community in Pennington, NJ, where she really enjoyed the social aspect of the community, as well as her privacy. She was often referred to as ‘Social Chair’ given her love for helping and planning events.

In 2015, Christine married Dominic at The Sagamore on Lake George, where Andy gave Christine away at the altar. Seeing her children remain close throughout their lives and share this day in such a special way together was one of the most special days for Vivienne in her lifetime.

In 2017, Christine and Dominic made Vivienne a grandmother, with ‘Master’ Charles Andrew Dorman becoming the highlight of Vivienne’s life. She enjoyed getting daily updates and pictures from Christine. No one could make Charlie smile like Grandma Viv. Vivienne and her grandson shared a special bond singing rhymes from her childhood, playing with miniature cars she’d get for him, and reading stories. Charlie brought her immense joy.

In 2019, Andy became reacquainted with Jill Murphy, a longtime friend from high school. Andy was extremely proud and happy to introduce his new significant other to his mother. They bonded and became friends quickly, chatting or emailing daily.

In early 2020, Vivienne was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her family and friends supported her through treatments and spent countless visits reflecting on how thankful they were for the times shared, memories made, laughs had, and the forever bonds that bind family. This focus was emblematic of Vivienne, being positive and grateful in the face of adversity. Vivienne knew her children were both settled down and happy, which was all she ever wanted in her life.

Passing peacefully on November 18, 2020, she leaves behind a legacy of understated grace, humility, benevolence, and love. She touched all she met in a way not many can and was truly one of a kind. Rest in Peace, Vivienne Bartels.

In addition to her cherished parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Billy in 2012.

Surviving, in addition to her children and their partners, and of course her beloved Charlie, are brother George & Julie and family, brother Trevor & Lynda and family, sister Patsy & Billy and family (all still residing in Northern Ireland), and sister Elizabeth & Alan and family (Australia).

A gathering and life celebration service for the immediate family took place privately due to the current pandemic in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822.

A public memorial life celebration service will be announced on this page for next spring, when hopefully many can gather to celebrate the life of this amazing woman.

Please visit Vivienne’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

ALWAYS giving back to the community and people in need, without ever asking for anything in return, those wish to honor Vivienne are asked to make a contribution, through the donation program ‘In Memory Of’, to the Flemington Area Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels in Hunterdon, or to the Patient Fund at the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. Please click HERE to be taken to her personal and secure donation page. For those who wish to mail a contribution, please do so by making a check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘V. Bartels’ in the memo along with which charity you prefer, and mailing to: In Memory Of, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”