Obituary of Vivian P. Hellmann

Vivian P. Hellmann passed away peacefully in the company of her family at the Atrium at The Village at Penn State on December 31, 2015. Born in Queens County, New York on October 14, 1925 to Margaret B. Petrone and John J. Petrone, Vivian grew up on Long Island and in Jackson Heights, New York. A graduate of Forest Hills High School, Vivian started her career as a staff assistant at National Cork Company in New York. She met the love of her life, John R. Hellmann, an Army paratrooper, on a blind date on Thanksgiving 1943, and they were married on October 27, 1946 upon John’s return from Europe. Vivian and John raised two children, Diane J. Hellmann and John R. Hellmann Jr. from their homes in Bergenfield, and then Old Tappan, New Jersey. Vivian was a long time employee of the Old Tappan School System and Northern Valley Regional High School until her retirement in 1987. After travelling the United States and visiting family and friends around the country, Vivian and John moved to be near their son in State College, Pennsylvania in 2001. Vivian and John have been residents at The Village at Penn State since 2010. Vivian is survived by her husband John, her daughter Diane from Malone, N.Y., son John and his wife Kathleen from State College, PA, six grandchildren (Daniel, Sarah, Michael, Warren, John, and Jonathan, four great-grandchildren (Kalystah, Brexys, Brinleigh, and Austyn Gerow), and many friends and family from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The family is humbled by, and sincerely appreciates the loving care that Vivian and John have received from the staff at the Atrium at The Village at Penn State. You are all very special to us – THANK YOU! A celebration of Vivian’s life will be held at the Village at date to be announced. Private burial will be at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, N.J. at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 1375 Martin Street #206, State College, PA 16803 or to the Penn State Dance Marathon in support of the Four Diamonds Fund Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital (EMS Dance Marathon Group #105, 227D HUB, University Park, PA 16802. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.