Vivian G. Hart

life story

Vivian G. Hart

About Vivian

Vivian Hart

October 26, 1948-May 31, 2015

I will rise when he calls my name. Chris Tomlin

Vivian Gayle Hart of Hudson, Wisconsin died from complications of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma on May 31, 2015 at home in the presence of dear family members.

Vivian began her life as a baby on October 26, 1948 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. And, what a baby she was. The Duluth News Tribune published a story on how excellent the medical care was for the babies being delivered in great numbers at that time. Vivian Nelson was featured in a picture as part of the article. Vivian weighed ten pounds at birth which her Dad, Robert Nelson, attributed to the two-week liquid diet that her mother had been prescribed a doctor. Most of the intake was hot chocolate, which may have contributed to Vivian’s lifelong love of chocolate, particularly dark chocolate.

Vivian was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota. She walked on flat land the one block to Grant Elementary School. The chant from the students against their rival , Munger Elementary was, “Munger monkeys upside down, Grant Gorillas, best in town.” In 1977 Vivian married a “Munger Monkey,” but more about that later. Vivian attended Washington Junior High and played clarinet in the band. She was a proud graduate of Duluth Central High School and the University of Minnesota Duluth where she majored in English and minored in French.

Vivian Nelson married Aethan Hart at Trinity Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota on March 19, 1977. They left Duluth for the Twin Cities, making their home in a duplex on Stryker Avenue in West St. Paul. The Harts bought their first house a few blocks south on Stryker Avenue and after the birth of their son, Elias in 1979 moved to West St. Paul, landing at the corner of Bernard and Felix. Vivian always found it interesting that Eli was part of the street named Felix.

Vivian began her working life at the Duluth Target Store Snack Bar. Her specialty was making donuts and during her many visits to the Minnesota State Fair, she avoided being near any mini-donut stand. Vivian’s future employment included jobs as a magazine editor, (trade magazines and Minnesota Monthly), a community organizer on St Paul’s West Side, a meeting planner in the education of elected and appointed public officials, operating her own consulting business focusing on community evolvement, a fundraiser for non-profits, and as an executive director of organization helping youth.

Vivian always said that her most satisfying job was working for the people of West St. Paul as the third woman elected to the City Council in the history of the City. Her campaign slogan, “The Council Needs a Hart” was her method of trying to bring people together on issues that were often high in emotion. Vivian decided early in her four-year term that she would serve one term and not let a decision on how her vote might impact her reelection influence her position on an issue.

In addition to loving rock music, Vivian loved to travel and collected rocks from around the United States and Canada. Her suitcase was always full of rocks which she returned home.

Vivian’s faith journey was important to her. She believed that all people are children of God and was accepting of all. She was an active volunteer at the churches she attended and felt that helping those in need was a key part of her faith.

In 2003, Vivian and Aethan moved to Hudson Wisconsin. Vivian involved herself in the church and community with energy. In 2009, Vivian was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Seeing that there was no support group in Western Wisconsin for people experiencing cancer she organized a support group, planned with others and held a survivor’s dinner, participated in Relay for Life and counseled people in a club of where nobody wants to be granted a membership.

As her life was ebbing away, Vivian participated in a women’s bible study group and spoke often of the Lord as, “My rock and fortress and my deliverer.” At the end of her memorial service, a large bowl of rocks was at the exit. Attendees who were encouraged to take a rock with words from Psalm 18:2. The rocks collected on her travels traveled outside the church to people’s homes and offices.

Vivian leaves behind her husband and closest friend Aethan Hart, her cherished son Eli and his wife Angie, precious grandchildren Claire and Sam, Mother Maxine Nelson, and siblings Conrad Nelson (Carol) and Becky Nelson. Robert C. Nelson, Vivian’s dad, predeceased her as did her in-laws Avon and Viola Hart.

If you desire to honor Vivian, contribute your time and money to helping people in need, listen to music of the Everly Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, Linda Ronstadt, Waylon Jennings and music that you enjoy, eat a piece of French Silk Pie or high octane dark chocolate, explore nature, catch fish, believe in a higher power, tell stories, read books, and open the drapes and let the sunshine into your life.