Obituary of Vivian Eleanor Hunter

Vivian Eleanor Hunter (Nee Martin)

August 18, 1926- May 20, 2018

Vivian passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 20^th, 2018 at Barnswallow Place in Elmira.

A favourite Poem of Vivie’s was “Ulysses” by Tennyson which began “I am part of all that I have met…”

If this is true then we are all richer for having known Vivie.  She was born in Toronto, spent her childhood in Peterborough, and her adult life in Toronto, Terra Cotta, and at Luther Village in Waterloo. She received a B. Comm from U of T in 1948 and went on to work briefly in the Actuarial Dept of Confederation Life. For real adventure, she took flying lessons, and eventually received her pilot’s licence, but she quickly learned that navigation in the air was not her forte, and she stayed grounded. During this time, she also drove an ambulance for the Red Cross, in fact that’s how she got her driver’s licence. Around the same time, she met her future husband, Reginald Hunter. They were married in 1951, and 3 years later, had a son, Peter.

She left her career to pursue her true passions, which were her family and her volunteer work. In the 1960s, Viv became heavily involved with The Unitarian Service Committee, as she organized volunteers to sew quilts, mend second hand clothing, and pack it all up to be sent to third world countries. In the 1970s, the plight of Tibetan refugees from China’s occupation of Tibet became Vivie’s cause to rally behind. At first, she took part in Art shows at Waterloo Library, about twice a year, selling Tibetan paintings and sending the proceeds back to the refuges, who had relocated to India. She realized that she could do more to raise public awareness of the Tibetans’ injustice, so she turned her garage into an upscale art gallery, featuring paintings, carpets, brass ornaments, and any kind of artifact that the Tibetans in India could make for sale in Canada. The project was completely non-profit, with all revenue being sent back to the Tibetans in India to help them establish a new life for themselves. She flew to India and visited the Tibetan villages along the Nepal border. She would then buy carpets, paintings, and other artifacts and have them shipped back to Canada. Such trips often lasted a month or longer. She made eight such journeys. The Tibetan Gallery was in operation until the mid 1990s. She made a difference in many refugees’ lives. Two memorable occasions from this time period were when she had a private audience with the Dalai Lama (twice), and when she presented Sir Edmund Hillary with a Tibetan knit sweater that said “Tibet” on it. He wore it to humour her.

She was a trailblazer of her time; she was an activist, a humanitarian, a world traveller/ adventurer, and just a little bit of a rebel, in fact her father nicknamed her “Rogue”. Her stories, her knowledge and her selflessness will be missed by her friends and family. She will be remembered by her son Peter Hunter (Cindy), granddaughters Meghan Sheepway (Scott) and Brianna Samson (Brendon) and great grandchildren Mason and Camryn Sheepway. She is survived by her sister Gwen Hancock and predeceased by her sister Evelyn Campbell.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held in the Fireside Room of the Erb&Good Family Funeral Home 171 King St, S, Waterloo on Saturday July 21^st, 2018 from 2pm to 4 pm.

Condolences for the family and donations to Lutherwood Child and Family Foundation, (or the charity of your choice) may be arranged through the funeral home www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.