Swain, Vivian J. (nee Hochstein), entered heaven's gates on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the age of 97.

Vivian was the beloved wife of the late Joseph F. Swain; mother of Matthew Joseph (Valerie) Swain and Elizabeth Margaret (Michael) Swain-Cohen; grandmother of Stephanie Howdyshell, Samantha Swain, Alexis Jones, Riley Swain, Bronwyn Swain-Cohen, and Joseph Swain-Cohen; step-grandmother of Vida Swain; stepmother of Donald Swain; sister of Naomi Carey; and dear aunt, cousin, and friend to many.

Vivian was born on October 28, 1928 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Malvin and Margaret Hochstein.  She grew up in Johnstown and Akron, Ohio. She attended college at Akron University.

Vivian married Joseph F. Swain on August 3, 1957 in Columbus, Ohio. They lived 62 happy and loving years together, living in Mansfield, Ohio, Dallas, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri, Des Moines, Iowa, and Creve Coeur, Missouri. Viv was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe, in February, 2020.

Vivian had a truly imaginative, creative, intelligent, and expressive talent in writing. She worked for many years as a writer. She worked for the Dallas Morning News, Monsanto, and Maritz Corporation, where she held the title of Creative Director.

Vivian had many hobbies, interests, and passions. She loved the arts. She loved books, theater, music, and traveling. She had a love of gardening, cooking, and entertaining. She spent so much of her time hosting friends and family at home. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, often attending their special events, and offering, loving, supportive, and encouraging words to them. Vivian was affectionately known to her grandchildren simply as "Grammy".

Through her journey of 97 years, Vivian touched many lives with her wisdom, kindness, and quick wit. She continued to make many friends in the last years of life as a resident of Kinwell Assisted Living in Chesterfield, Missouri. She touched the lives of her many caregivers in a special way, sharing her joy and wit through her storytelling.

Vivian was especially supportive of others. She did volunteer work as a Stephens Minister.  She was a member of Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church in Clayton, Missouri and dearly loved her church family.

We part with a dear friend, a loving mother, a doting, grandmother, and a kind soul. We will miss Vivian dearly, but as we mourn her loss, we also celebrate her life and the joyfulness and kindness of her character.

Services: Funeral service at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, 9450 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63124, Saturday, September 5, 11:00 a.m. If desired, contributions may be made to The Alzheimer's Foundation of America .

As a service of SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.