Viva Lee Freeman, 77, of Waukegan, died June 21, 2002 at Lake Forest Hospital. Viva was born Nov. 16, 1924 in Taylor County, KY. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, was affiliated with American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, and the Mothers Club of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at Illinois Wesleyan University. She was a volunteer for VISTA Eldercare and is a Kentucky Colonel. She loved to read, watch basketball and thoroughbred horseracing, do genealogy research and gardening. She had been assistant librarian for the Waukegan Public School System from 1960-1966, from 1966-1968 worked at Artistic Cleaners in Waukegan and from 1968-1975 worked in Central Services at the Lake County Courthouse. More recently she had worked as a receptionist at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Benet Lake, WI. Viva is best remembered for her genuine interest in everyone she met and her ability to make each one feel special. Her home has always been a gathering place where all were made to feel welcome. She is survived by her two children, George (Susan) Freeman of Antioch and Claudia Petrusky of Waukegan; and three grandchildren, Rachel and Kyle Freeman and Robert Petrusky. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert in 1983; and one granddaughter, Margaret Lee Petrusky in 1990. Visitation will be at Marsh Funeral Home, Waukegan, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday followed by funeral services and the Mass of Christian Burial at Immaculate Conception Church at 10 a.m. Burial will be at Pineview Cemetery in Beach Park. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent in her name to Winchester House in Libertyville or to the Scholarship Fund at Jack Benny Center for the Performing Arts.
