Part 5: In Pursuit of Dreams

The Vivian Mae Faircloth Story

In part 4, Vivian met and married John Geretschlaeger, who was stable and financially oriented. The purchase of their own home marked a fulfilling achievement for Vivian, providing stability and boosting her confidence. His death in 1984 left Vivian heartbroken. She found solace in her role as a grandmother, forming deep connections with her grandchildren and maintaining amicable relationships with her former husband, Louis. Despite challenges with her children, Vivian's later years were marked by a dedication to family and a playful spirit. (Read the story from the beginning.)

Lasting Assessments

Vivian (Faircloth) Geretschlaeger. Circa 1993.

A lifelong smoker, Vivian faced numerous health issues, culminating in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease at the end. In the year 2000, her end-of-life care commenced in the home she and John had purchased in the early 1980s. Her sister, Donna, with whom she had long-since reconciled, came to stay with her. Her children and grandchildren were constant visitors. Although in physical pain without morphine, she prepared those around her for her final goodbye, providing comfort to her grieving family. 

When Vivian became bed-bound, grandson Scott came to say his final goodbyes and shared with her the struggles he was having to conceive a child. She assured him that once she passed, she would send a baby from heaven for Scott to love and cherish.

Only a few months prior Vivian, oxygen tank in tow, had attended the funeral of her great-grandson, Gabriel who died from SIDS at 11 weeks of age, leaving her granddaughter Jami heart-broken. Jami later eulogized:

“I remember Grandma telling me that Jesus was holding Gabriel and soon she would be holding him too. It is a great comfort to know that when Grandma is not flying with the eagles, she is holding my son in her arms like she once held me.” 

Vivian was 75 years old when she succumbed to her illness on St. Patrick’s Day and is buried at Fort Snelling Cemetery alongside John. Louis, who despite their differences, loved her until the end and was acknowledged as a "special friend" in her obituary. On the day she was buried, an eagle was spotted souring in the sky nearby, and nine months later, Scott became the proud father of a healthy baby boy. 

We all live under the desperate hope that our past mistakes can be forgiven, and while she never discussed with anyone the years she was away, examining her life in full context reveals that those years, though carrying the weight of regret, were necessary. And thus forgiven.

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Epilogue

Sometimes, it requires the passage of generations to grasp a broader perspective. Vivian’s earliest dreams were of being loved and feeling safe. As a young lady, these aspirations translated into envisioning a life with a handsome husband and a cozy home. Over the years, she experienced love and stability not from the tangible, but rather the intangible bonds forged through shared experiences.

I believe it wasn’t until John died that Vivian came to realize relationships steeped in laughter, tears, and unwavering support are the foundation of love, and the cozy home she once envisioned transformed into a haven, not defined by the ownership of its walls, but by the warmth created within. True stability, she discovered, emanates from resilience and adaptability. These intangible bonds she cultivated became the pillars upholding her sense of belonging and security. 

Ultimately, she realized that the essence of a fulfilling life lies not in the pursuit of material success, but in the richness of relationships that endure the tests of time.