Vivian Katzoff Kramer

VIVIAN KATZOFF KRAMER

Vivian Katzoff Kramer, died in her home in Wallace, NC, on Tuesday, August 18, 2009. Vivian was the daughter of Samuel and Rose Goldstein Katzoff, deceased. She was the wife of Harry E. Kramer who preceded her in death in 1983. She was the mother of Muriel K. Offerman and husband Max of Cary, NC, Janice K. Fox and husband Michael of Wallace, NC, and Natalie K. Shawn and husband Howard of Scarsdale, NY.

Survivors include grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Mark Offerman (Eddie & Emma Offerman) of Wrightsville Beach, NC; Sheri Opper and husband Fred (Chloe, Charlie & Claudia Opper) of Wilmington, NC; Lori O. Brinkley and husband Jay (Dana & Trent Brinkley) of Wilmington, NC; Craig Fox and wife Laura (Adam & Derek Fox) of Chapel Hill, NC; Larry Fox and wife Patti (Sidney Rose & Jeremy Bruce Fox) of Chapel Hill, NC; Joel Fox and wife Jennifer ( Jared & Jenna Renee Fox) of Dacula, GA; Peter Shawn and wife Aggy (Elizabeth, Emily and Jonathan Shawn) of Scarsdale, NY; Erik Shawn and wife Sharon (Andrew & Rebecca Shawn) of New York, NY; and Brett K. Shawn and fiancé' Dr. Lauren Kornreich of New York , NY.

Vivian K. Kramer was born in Manning, SC, on February 24, 1911. She graduated high school there, first in her class. Her family moved to Atlanta, GA for a short while before moving to Wilmington, NC. Vivian was the second of four girls in the Katzoff family; Helen Eisenberg, Irma Kramer, and Myra S. Goldberg preceded her in death. Surviving in-laws are: Jeanette K. Turner of Hallendale, FL; Mollie K. Leiken of Boca Raton, FL; and Doris Kramer of Whiteville, NC. In addition Vivian leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, grand nieces, grand nephews and friends. All will miss her warm smile and loving heart.

A special "thank you" goes to Raddie Blanton, Patsy Batts and Gail Watson for the loving care they provided to Vivian.

Vivian and her husband-to-be met at a New Year's party in Wilmington, NC and were married there seven months later on July 8, 1934. Harry owned a retail clothing store, "Kramer's, Your Friendly Store," in Wallace, NC. So back to a small town Vivian went. When asked if she liked the town, she responded: "of course, that's where my husband is." While spending most of the year in Wallace, Vivian would spend summers at Wrightsville Beach on W. Henderson Street. In the early '70s, they moved their summer address to The Islander of North Lumina, Wrightsville Beach.

Vivian was a true partner to Harry, working by his side at "Kramer's." She built and managed a thriving ladies' and children's business within "Kramer's" including buying, personnel and sales. She and Harry, assisted by Muriel, Max, Janice and Michael, relocated "Kramer's" to Rockfish Plaza in 1971. "Kramer's" was a major shopping center and landmark in the town and Duplin County for 60 years, with Vivian well known throughout.

Vivian actively participated in the community. During WWII, the Wallace women watched for planes, knitted for the soldiers, and housed soldiers and their wives. The Wallace Women's Club was her civic activity until age prevented her participation. Vivian was an avid bridge and Mah Jongg player, a member of Hadassah and the NC Association of Jewish Men and Women. She belonged to three Jewish houses of worship in Goldsboro and Wilmington.

A gentle, kind, loving mother to her girls, Vivian often said: "You can do anything you want to do as long as you try." Those words of encouragement meshed with a core of hard work, intelligence and charm that made her a powerful role-model for her daughters as well as her grandchildren. Her smiles, hugs and kisses will be with all of us through the years.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., today, Thursday, August 20, 2009 at the Coble Ward-Smith Funeral Service, Oleander Chapel, 3915 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC, by Rabbi Robert Waxman, followed by the interment at B'Nai Israel cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. The family will receive visitors at the home of Vivian Kramer in Wallace, 616 E. Murphy Street, for three days following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Vivian's memory to the "Harry E. Kramer Memorial Scholarship", James Sprunt Community College, P.O. Box 393, Kenansville, NC 28349-0398 or the Jewish Heritage Foundation of NC ("Down Home"), P.O. Box 51245, Durham, NC 27717.



Coble Ward-Smith Funeral and Cremation Service, Oleander Chapel, 791-4444

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