Vivian Gould (nee Napralla)

My grandmother, Vivan Alice Gould, passed away on Saturday, August 21, 2021. She lived a long and full life. She was 90. 90! And I still wish I had more time with her.

She was born in the Town of Shields, in Marquette County, on the Napralla farm on June 8, 1931 to the late Anton and Clara (Zodrow) Napralla.

She used to tell us stories about growing up on the Napralla farm all the time. She laughed every time she told the story about how her brothers, Gene and Ciff, filled the one-room Haney School House with corn husks as a practical joke one day. Her dad allegedly said, "Those damn s***s", and then had to go clean it up. She talked about the big family gatherings, the delicious food her mother would cook, and how no one at their house ever went hungry, even though they didn't have much. And how she and her brother James would walk to school in the winter with a blanket around their shoulders, and bricks to keep them warm. They also had a dog and cat they would try to sneak past on their way home, but somehow, the pets always found them.

She left the farm, and moved to Milwaukee, where she met her late husband. Raymond was drafted into service during the Korean War. So, they decided to get hitched before he left and tied the knot on February 28th, 1951. My mom, BettyAnn, came along after he got back, and the rest is history.

I could tell you that she worked into her 70s. Her favorite job was being a waitress at Eddie's Club B. She was a lifelong Catholic, and belonged to St. Mary Faith Community in Hales Corners for decades.

But what I really want to tell you is how much we loved her.

She was a constant presence in our lives. I was in plays and choir in grade school and high school. My sister was in the band. She never missed a performance.

I remember fishing for hours on Buffalo Lake. She'd often take me to the country store after, buy me ice cream, and we'd eat it sitting near Montello Falls.

Or how about the night my mother sent me to bed without dinner. Well, my grandma didn't like that, and she made dessert that day. So, she brought the whole plate of Rice Krispies treats up to my room, and we sat on the bed eating them (I'm not sure if anyone else got dessert that day).

I could also tell you that she loved the Green Bay Packers, until Brett Favre left the team. Then she never watched a game again (no joke!)

Or how she used to make everyone's favorite treats for Christmas and wrap them up as presents. My mom would get peanut squares, I would get church windows, etc. Well, I brought my boyfriend (now my husband) to Christmas one year, and she didn't know what he liked, so she made him rum balls. He started feeling a little woozy after he ate a few, and asked Grandma how much rum was in them. She said not that much, but she ran out of regular rum, so she had to use the 151!

In addition to those "Santa" presents, every Christmas Eve she'd make lobster tails, ribs and french onion soup. But truthfully, everything she made was fantastic. We especially loved her apple pie, potato salad, fudge and infamous "pink stuff".

We'll never be able to smell Estee Lauder's "Beautiful" without thinking about her.

And we'd give anything for one more Saturday morning girls' shopping trip.

She will be deeply missed by her daughter BettyAnn (James) Irving; grand-daughters Diane (Graden Scheiwe) Irving, and Stephanie Irving; great-grandchildren Graden, Jr., Elizabeth and James; brother James (Jackie) Napralla of Menomonee Falls and Florence (Tony, deceased) Panfil of Milwaukee along with other beloved family and friends.

She was welcomed into Heaven by her husband; parents; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clifford (Elizabeth) Napralla of Princeton, Eugene (Dorothy) Napralla of Montello, and Aloysius (Bernice) Napralla of Milwaukee.

A visitation will be held Friday Aug 27th in the chapel, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Visitation from 1pm to 1:30, Committal Service at 1:30 pm. Face masks will be required if planning to attend. Mt. Olivet Cemetery is located at 3801 W. Morgan Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53221.