Violet Mae “Vi” (Morgan) Colianni, 86, of Seadrift, passed away Nov. 25, 2016. Born Feb. 22, 1930 in McAllen, she was the daughter of the late Alton “A.L.” and Eva Morgan.
She attended school in the Valley and married her soul mate, Louis Colianni, Dec. 31, 1949. She and her family lived in several locations in South Texas, settling in Victoria before Louis’ retirement. She did bookkeeping work for her husband and was a proud stay-at-home mother to four sons. Although her patience was tested at times, it was nothing the good Lord and a quick swat could not handle.
She and her late husband retired in their early 50s, and moved to Seadrift in the mid 1980s to do nothing more than fish, relax, flounder and fish. She also taught piano lessons to many local Seadrift children.
She was an active and integral member of the First United Methodist Church of Seadrift, loved singing in the church choir and played the piano at many services both in the Seadrift and Austwell Methodist Churches. She sang soprano in the Seadrift Community Choir for 25 years, and this year’s performances are dedicated to her memory. She also participated in her church’s Feed My Sheep program, and helped serve senior citizens lunches on Wednesdays. Nobody dared to tell her she was a senior citizen.
Taking care of her husband and helping others were her main objectives in life, and she was always looking for ways to “make other people happy.” She was often referred to as “that red-headed lady who rides around on a bicycle and picks up cans,” and she would cash in the cans and donate the money to the church. Her always-positive and friendly attitude towards others will truly be missed. She never met a stranger. Ever.
She is survived by two sisters, Dorothy Myatt and Lois Truhe; four sons: Michael (Debra), Robert (Billie), Jeffrey, Vincent (Teresa); three grandchildren, Chris Colianni, Lance Colianni, and Kassidy Colianni; four great-grandchildren: Branson, Brooke, Brynley Colianni and Austin Colianni; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and caring friends; and one granddog, Pookie.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a brother, Buck Morgan; a sister, Alta Anderson.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Dec. 10, at First United Methodist Church in Seadrift followed by a light lunch and fellowship with the family in the fellowship hall.
The perfect way to summarize her life is to say “Well done, my good and faithful servant … “ — Matthew 25:23.