Vivian Neiswander

Vivian Neiswander (neè Baber) passed away peacefully on February 4th after a battle with Stage 4 cancer and multiple health complications. Her fiery personality came into this world on April 12th, 1952; a bird who could not be caged. From growing up on a hog and cattle farm in Ohio, to becoming a foreign exchange student on a sheep farm in New Zealand, to her 3 degrees, she was a life long explorer and learner. Humans were her favorite animal, so a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing was the perfect fit for her special interest. She parlayed many of her skills into her community after retirement. With the philosophy of "everyone needs a home to run away to," she, her husband Tom, and their two children acquired "strays" (as they lovingly called them). She said the RN next to her name stood for Reality Nurturer, and she encouraged all people to be their authentic selves without losing sight of their effect on the world around them. She was active in the recovery community and believed there was no one beyond help. To know Vivian was like feeling the sun light up your soul. All who met her were blessed to know her loving warmth.
Vivian was preceded in death by her father Jim Baber, her brother Dave Baber, her husband Tom Neiswander, and her mother Oleta Swaney. She is survived by her daughter Isabelle (Elizabeth Beck) Neiswander, her son Michael Neiswander, and her brothers Steve (Margaret) Baber and Jerry (Rhonda Fabian) Baber.
A celebration of life will be held on April 12th at The Gahanna Sanctuary (82 N. High St., Gahanna, OH 43230) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with coffee and snacks afterward. Please bring your favorite memory of Vivian to put on a 3"×5" or 5"×8" card. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Main Place of Newark and Mt. Vernon, Ohio.