Vivian Mae (Van Vorce) Rose, 88, of Catlin, IL, passed away after a brief illness on April 6, 2026, at OSF Hospital in Danville, IL, with her two daughters at her side. She has gone to be with her Lord and join her husband, Bill who preceded her on May 6, 1996, just one month shy of their 40th wedding anniversary.
Vivian was born in Wood County, OH on August 23, 1937, to Donald and Leola (Armstrong) Van Vorce, and graduated from Washington Township High School in 1955. She married William (Bill) E. Rose on June 9, 1956, in Portage, OH. They lived on the Army base in Fort Knox, KY, where their first daughter was born.
In her younger years, Vivian found joy camping at the Wood County Fair, where she showed horses, worked the betting tents, and made memories with friends and families. She was showing a horse when she went into labor with her second daughter. She shared a special bond with her favorite horse, Rex, and told many stories of riding with friends on horseback across the Maumee River. Many people knew Vivian from her years of employment at the Holiday Inn in Bowling Green, OH, at Catlin IGA, and also SouthTown True Value in Danville, IL.
She loved country music, especially Conway Twitty and Willie Nelson, and more recently surprised friends and family with her love for Snoop Dogg! As an avid sports fan, Vivian showed strong enthusiasm for March Madness, never missing a chance to follow the games, fill out brackets, and cheer for her Ohio State Buckeyes and Fighting Illini. She also liked to travel, visiting Las Vegas in the early 70’s, and she and Bill once took a week-long trip out west on Amtrak. Other trips included New Mexico, New Orleans, the Grand Ole Opry & Alaska, and she treasured river casino trips with her friends. Reading and TV game shows (like America Says, Family Feud, Press Your Luck, and People Puzzler) brought her enjoyment, and she often weighed in ahead of others with the correct answers. She liked jigsaw puzzles, word searches, and playing board games such as Skip-Bo, Uno, Rummy-O, and Yahtzee. When she played the outdoor game, croquet, she would predictably send your ball flying when given the chance. More than anything else, Vivian, an excellent cook, loved to spend time with family over a good meal or fish fry.
Survivors include two daughters – Dianna (Tim) McFadden of Catlin, IL, and Judy Rose of Detroit Lakes, MN; two grandchildren – Emilie (Paul) Ribbe of Bismark, IL, and Ethan McFadden of Catlin, IL; and two great grandsons – Lennox and Lincoln Ribbe. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, brother Bruce Van Vorce, and sister Bonna (Bob) Dickey, as well as many friends and family.
Though her absence leaves a space that can never be filled, her spirit will live on in the hearts of those who loved her, and she will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A Celebration of Life for Vivian will be held at the Simpson Garden Meeting Room, Bowling Green, OH on April 29th at noon. Arrangements were handled by Robison Chapel in Catlin, Illinois; to leave condolences for the family visit robisonchapel.com.
