Vivian "Jo" Esposito, 82, was born in Marion, Ohio January 2, 1930 to Ivan and Vivian (Walter) Johnson, and began eternal life with her Lord on February 15, 2012.
She enjoyed life at home with family and pets, courageously battled Alzheimers for several years, and was taken by squad to Marion General Hospital last Wednesday where she passed.
Viv, or “Jo” as she was known, graduated from Pleasant High School, then from a modeling academy in Chicago where she met and married Charles Esposito, who passed in 2006. She held a variety of jobs in her life, retiring in 1995 as office assistant to Sheriff John Butterworth.
Daughters Jeanine (Jay) Tarantino and Lori (Edward) Baltes are assured of seeing her again, along with sister-in-law Evonda Johnson, niece Jeri Bowers, other relatives and friends. A brother, Walter (Annemarie) Johnson of Florida, survives. Three brothers, Ivan Jr., Paul, and William preceded her in death.
Viv’s purpose in life was two-fold. Her life pointed people to a relationship with Jesus. She professed the most important decision you make is where life will continue upon leaving this earth based on accepting Christ as personal Savior. Viv was a quiet yet formidable champion of generosity and compassion. Countless lives, human and animal, were touched by her tireless spirit of helping the helpless.
She was a voice and hands for animals. She worked passionately to alleviate and prevent suffering of untold thousands of animals and the people connected to them. She was a founding supporter of the private charity, Wyandot County Humane Society, whose philosophies regarding animal protection aligned with her own. She believed in its motto “No Animal Is Ever Turned Away” which creates a haven for over 10,000 animals a year from all over Ohio and beyond where other shelters turn them away.
To this end, her family requests no flowers, but donations be made in her memory to the Wyandot County Humane Society, 9640 County Hwy 330, Upper Sandusky, Ohio 43351. Viv would wish to continue the extraordinary work of the shelter, which also encompasses equine rescue and a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.
With assistance from the Boyd-Born Funeral Home, a gathering in celebration of Vivian’s life will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, February 25 at Country Gatherings, 1775 Marion Waldo Rd in Marion. Pastor Rob McCorkle of Crossroads Community Church, Obetz, Ohio will lead the celebration.
About Marion Online Obituaries
