Visitation for Vivian Marie Milford (née Zayer), 97, of Villa Park, will be held Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL, 60067. Private interment will be held at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois at a later date. The Reverend Joel Lohafer will be officiating.
Vivian was born March 17, 1929 in Chicago, and she passed away May 20, 2026.
Vivian was the beloved wife of the late Donald R Milford; loving mother of Christopher (Judith) Milford, Warren (Bonnie) Milford; loving grandmother of Joseph, Elizabeth (Kyle) Connor, Stephen (Julie), Thomas (Kim), Jennifer (Jacob) Weier; loving great-grandmother of Jayden, Andrew, James, Ben, Anneliese, Oliver, Elliot; dear daughter of the late John and Estelle (nee Dyrek) Zayer; fond sister of Jackqueline (Bernie) Madden; and the late Gloria Stuart.
In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/).
Vivian, a Chicago native and the eldest of three daughters, embodied a nurturing spirit from a young age. After college, she married Don in Hayward, California, embarking on a remarkable 57-year marriage. Their home in Villa Park, Illinois, became the heart of their family.
Education was a profound passion for Vivian. She dedicated 30+ years to teaching, briefly pausing to raise her two beloved sons before returning to the classroom. A lifelong reader, she was rarely seen without a book in her hands.
Her creative spirit also shone through her skilled hands; Vivian was a gifted seamstress, quilter, and crocheter. Above all, she found immense joy as a grandmother, relishing time and shared travels with her expanding family. Vivian’s life exemplified dedication, creativity, and boundless love.
