Vivian Lee Borysiak

Vivian Lee Borysiak, 55, of Wildflower Way in South Bend, Indiana passed away on May 18th. Vivian Lee was born on April 15, 1952 in Queens, New York, to her parents Carmen Lydia (Santiago) and the late Cesar Alberto Cabrales.

On May 18, 1975, she married Tadeusz Maciej Borysiak, who survives with one daughter, Kathleen Lydia Toothaker (Brad) and two sons, Stefan Tadeusz Borysiak (Irene) and Robert Cesar Borysiak (Angelica); two sisters, Carol and Kathy Sutter of Smithtown, New York; and by five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Cesar Alberto Cabrales and her brother Bruce Cabrales, both of New York City.

Vivian Lee was raised in New York City and graduated from Jane Addams Vocational High School in Bronx, New York with an L.P.N. degree. She served in the Armed Forces of the United States as a Specialist Four in the Women's Army Corps, Quartermasters Corps from June 1970 ? September 1974. Vivian Lee was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

She later graduated from Ivy Tech's South Bend Campus with an Associates Degree in Business Administration. Vivian Lee attended classes at I.U.S.B., Division of Continuing Education and took courses in Spanish and Feng Shui.

Vivian Lee spent a number of years in both the financial and legal fields in New York City and in South Bend, IN. Most recently, she was working for I.A.T.S.E and enjoyed her role as a stagehand where she was responsible for working alongside the stage production crew for the preparation of Broadway shows, concerts and musicals.

Vivian Lee was a Civic Alliance member for the City of South Bend's City Plan process and a past member of the Steering Committee of the Weed & Seed program. She was a volunteer at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center's South Bend campus from September 1998 ? April 2005, assisting in the Gift Shop and at the Information Desk.

Private services were held at Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen, IN by Fr. Fernando Polycarp of St. Dominic Catholic Church. At the close of the memorial service three white doves were set free, representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As they ascended and began to circle, a single white dove was released representing the spirit of Vivian Lee Borysiak. It joined the others as they guided her in her final journey home. Psalms 55,6: "Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away and be at rest."

Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Vivian Lee Borysiak, to honor her work with community organizations and her passion for neighborhood enhancement and helping those in need of assistance to better their home environs, the family has established the Vivian Lee Borysiak Memorial Fund that will be maintained by The Community Foundation of St Joseph County. The funds will be earmarked to support neighborhood enhancement in South Bend, initially through the South Bend Weed & Seed Alliance, Inc., a 501(c)3 non profit organization. Please direct donations to: Vivian Lee Borysiak Memorial Fund, C/O The Community Foundation of St Joseph County, PO Box 837, South Bend, IN, 46624.