Helen Zivalich

1929 - 2014

Zivalich, Helen Joanne Zivalich, age 85, of Orlando, FL, passed away on July 16, peacefully, at the Arden Courts care facility in Winter Springs, FL. Visitation will be held at Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home (2811 Curry Ford Road Orlando, FL 32806) on Friday, July 25th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church (4545 Anderson Rd, Orlando, FL 32812) on Saturday, July 26th at 10:00 a.m. Joanne, of proud Irish descent, was born June 4, 1929 in Grimes, Iowa to John Joseph and Isabel Watters. She was the sixth of ten children. At age 7, her family moved to Brooklyn, NY, where she grew up and later met the love of her life, the late Tony J. Zivalich, Sr., at a Young Christian Workers seminar and dance. They married May 2, 1953. She gave up her Wall Street position to devote her time as wife and mother, moving as necessary for Tony's union organizing work to Chicago, Springfield, IL, Kirkwood, MO, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Boca Raton. Raising nine children in the New South during the nineteen sixties amidst the changes in the political landscape and the organized labor movement provided living daily civics lessons for her children. Often with little to no notice, Joanne found herself greeting some of Atlanta's future political leaders for dinner with the family. She finessed it with aplomb. She was a devoted woman of the Roman Catholic faith attending daily mass whenever possible. At various times she was active in the Christian Family Movement, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the bereavement group of her church. Joanne decried the so called "Mommy Wars," asserting all mothers were "working mothers" whether paid for work outside the home or not. She insisted that all her children achieve the highest education they could in order to be contributing members of society. Joanne was preceded in death by her husband, Tony J. Zivalich, Sr. and a son, Mark Francis Zivalich, four brothers, and four sisters. She is survived by sister, Phyllis (Dave) Plaus of New York; sister-in-law, Mary Hurley of Elmhurst, IL; and her adoring children: Dr. Donna (Mark Dold) Zivalich of Lenexa, KS, Suzanne (Matt) Weiss of Fort Lauderdale, Maura (Ray) Pelleteri of New Orleans, Dr. Jane Zivalich (Tony Raitano) of Orlando, Tony J. (Liz) Zivalich, Jr. of Atlanta, Rita (Mark) Sampson of Atlanta, Paul Zivalich of Orlando, and Joshua Zivalich of Miami; devoted "adopted" daughter, Robin Reynolds; twenty two grandchildren; three great grand-children; and many nieces and nephews. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to Joanne's medical provider, Dr. Sandra Stine, and the wonderful devoted staff of Arden Courts. She will be forever in our hearts and we will miss her every day. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alzfdn.org.