Viva Leona Bawek, 94, was born to eternal life on Nov. 7, 2014, at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, St. Marys Campus following a short illness.

Viva was born on March 10, 1920, to Robert and Nellie (DeRemer) Haney on a farm near Austin. She was the sixth of eight children, and when she was nine, her family moved to a farm between Rose Creek and Elkton. Viva loved the country school she attended. She had many wonderful memories of riding in a horse-drawn bus, winning a declamatory contest, singing with a sextet on a Twin Cities radio station, cheerleading and playing basketball. She loved playing with her siblings and riding her pony Mott.

Viva married Gilbert Bawek on Oct. 20, 1936, in St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Rose Creek. They had six children and celebrated 61 years of marriage. Viva and Gilbert spent the early years of their marriage working on farms with various family members and later moved to Austin, where she was a homemaker and an “Avon Lady” and also worked at Cleveland Hardware and Sears. Viva and Gilbert were charter members of Queen of Angels and later joined the St. Augustine parish family. Viva was an active member of her church unit and loved working the bingo events. She was also a member of Women of the Moose and the Eagles Auxiliary and volunteered with the American Red Cross.

Viva had a special talent for music; she could play the accordion, the organ, and the piano by ear. She loved to dance and was stiff competition in the card game of 500. She will also be remembered for her homemade bread, chocolate chip cookies and signature lemon pie, and the afghans she crocheted for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Viva enjoyed traveling; her favorite destinations included Hawaii, Alaska, London, and Pasadena, California, for the Rose Bowl Game.

In October 2012, Viva decided to leave her home of 60 years and move to Sacred Heart Assisted Living. A whole new chapter of life began there as she made new friends and reunited with people she previously knew. She loved her apartment, the staff and the fun they all shared together.

Viva was proud of her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She is survived by her children: LaVonne (Donald) Dokken, and Darwin (Maureen) of Austin; son-in-law Robert Dahlback of Austin; brother Jonas (Loretta) Haney of Austin; sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws. She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Cynthia (Mark) Cassellius of Onalaska, Wisconsin, Thomas Underdahl of Abingdon, Virginia, Carri Morse of Rosemount, Cathy (Chris) Cahak of Mosinee, Wisconsin, Shawn Sollie of Edina, Lori (Tom) Martin of Pine Island, Darci (Tim) Martin of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Kris (Tim) Burkey of Austin, Scott (Tamara) Bawek of San Diego, California, Michelle “Mickey” (Dwight) Smith of Austin, and Jeff (girlfriend Bridget Schmidt) Bawek of Austin.

She is also survived by great-grandchildren: Ashley Ryder, Brescia (Joseph) Berg, Courtney and Caitlin Morse, Stephanie and Samantha Sollie, Nicholas (fiancé Samantha O’Connor) Wiechmann, Elizabeth and Isaac Rosenthal, Jordan, Blake and Ethan Martin, Tyler, Treigh and Tatem Burkey, Jake and Jesse Smith, Olivia Bawek, and Cassidy, Noah, Alec and Cooper Bawek; and three great-great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Ryder, and Patrick and Kaden Wiechmann. She was looking forward to welcoming two more great-great-grandchildren in the spring. Also included as survivors are many nieces and nephews; two goddaughters; sister JoAnn Haney, O.S.F. and Lori Donnelly; and a special cousin Agnes Waters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Nellie; husband, Gilbert; children: Gary, Pamela, Beverly Dahlback, and Marlene (Donald) Jensen; and siblings and in-laws, Mildred (Norman) Nicholson, Myron (Christina) Haney, Almon (Lurena) Haney, Alta (Louis) Klingfus, Ruby (Donald) Underdahl, Marshall (Katherine) Haney.

A visitation will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the chapel at Sacred Heart Care Center, 1200 12th St. SW in Austin, with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at St. Augustine’s Parish, 405 4th St. in Austin, with Father James Steffes, officiating. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Interment at Calvary Cemetery will follow. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com. The Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is assisting the family with the arrangements. Memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Assisted Living or the Hormel Institute.

May the road rise to meet you, and may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Rest in peace, Grandma.