Selma Vital Obituary

For all her loving thoughts, my love and appreciation always for my Aunt.

From her nephew,
Richard

To all who attended this memorial, THANK YOU!

It was an excellent tribute to her career dedicated to others at the U of C campus where she gave so much of herself.

If you were unable to attend, you can still share your sentiments here or contact the family through this website.

As I was growing up, I found my mom, Selma, was attentive and strict. Later, as we grew up together, and she was "over the hill", I became the caregiver.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE has been scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 2006, at noon at Rockefeller Chapel, 5850 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago (773) 702-2100 in Hyde Park. For further arrangement details, contact Geri Vital at 919-423-3201 (or leave a message on that voicemail). Also available at [email protected].

When I came to Chicago in 1973, I felt so alone because I had no family here. I would drive back to Ann Arbor (240 miles or more) almost every week-end. My Dad told me he believed we had a cousin in Chicago. He made a contact in Marion IN, and got Selma, phone number for me. I called Selma and not only did she and her children became my newfound cousins, but Selma and her children became my Chicago family and my friends. I will never forget the kindness she showed to me. I love you all and will keep you in my prayers.



Cousin Carol

Granny,



I remember you babysitting me over at 46th Pl & Wells and driving a really large rusty car (i think it was a chevy). Around the time I broke my leg, I remember crawling up and down your stairs with that itchy caste on. So much has changed since then. Almost all of the buildings on the other side of the Dan Ryan are gone. and I have to cosign with Madelyn, I could always count on you for a Happy Meal and you were always up for getting a Quarter Pounder with Cheese.



I don't know how hard it was on the inside but it was difficult seeing you in the condition you were in and even going through the events that lead up to that point. I will miss our time together and I really wish I could've known you better at this maturity level instead when I was younger. I am forever in debt to you for helping raise me during my childhood.



Granny, you will always be in my thoughts. I will love you always.

Aunt Selma, we will all miss you!

I am Selma Vital's granddaughter and it is very sad to see her go. There are several memories which I now hold dear that she and I shared. She took care of me much of the time when I was an infant/toddler and many people called us "eating buddies." It seemed eating a good, hearty meal was one of her joys in life and she liked to share it with me. Even when I was older she never wanted to pass up an oppurtunity to get good burger. I am sorry I did not get to spend more time with her and enjoy her cheerful spirit as I have grown older. Even though I am sorry she has passed, I am glad that she no longer must struggle with alzheimer's and is now at rest.

Selma Sarah (nee Smith) Vital, died December 16, 2005, in Chicago after several years illness. Born to Mary (nee Wilson) and Ralph Smith on March 28th, 1923, she grew up in Marion, Indiana. After sibling Ralph Jr. died from lack of prompt medical attention, Selma resolved to become a nurse to prevent similar occurrences from happening again. She moved to Chicago to attend nursing school just prior to World War II, and through mentoring then nursing student and fellow Army Cadet Bernice Vital (later to wed Tuskeegee Airman Eugene Winslow), she met decorated Army veteran Leroy P. Vital from Port Arthur, Texas. After marrying in Marion, she joined Leroy and lived in New York City for several years in the era after the Harlem Renaissance and had their first child, Gracian.



In postwar years, Selma and Leroy moved to Chicago permanently where she worked as a registered nurse for nearly thirty years caring for injured and ill adults, newborn infants, and training younger nurses, mostly at the University of Chicago's Lying-In Hospital and Billings Hospital. Leroy graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and, with Selma's support, became a prominent African-American attorney who won several landmark civil rights cases argued in courts from Cook County to the U.S. Supreme Court. Leroy preceded Selma in 1982.



Selma enjoyed staying close to her family, loved reading, and took pride in raising her four children who earned eight college degrees among them, and caring for her grandchildren, Gabriel and Madelyn. Also preceding Selma were sisters Lovie Stewart, Frieda Goens, Marilyn Smith, and brothers, Elbert and Ralph Smith. Surviving family include children Gracian Vital, Gilman Vital, Geri (and wife Michelle) Vital, and Gregory Vital; sister Theda (and husband Cletus) Goens; brother John Smith; grandson Gabriel Priester; and granddaughter Madelyn Vital.



Selma's wish was to be cremated. Memorial service(s) will be arranged for a location in Chicago and possibly Marion on a date closer to the spring. To receive notification about the location and time, please leave your contact information in a voicemail message at 919-383-8300.

Selma,



We will miss you. You loved your children and grandchildren. Your grandchildren both benefitted from your time and love. Michelle.

We thank all relatives, friends, and neighbors who shared their love and respect for our mother and father Leroy over the years.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that a (tax-deductible) donation be made in their memory for college scholarships at http://www.uncf.org/ .



Selma Vital's full obituary:



Selma Sarah (nee Smith) Vital, died December 16, 2005, in Chicago after several years of illness. Born to Mary (nee Wilson) and Ralph Smith on March 28th, 1923, she grew up in Marion, Indiana. After sibling Ralph Jr. died from lack of prompt medical attention, Selma resolved to become a nurse to prevent similar occurrences from happening again. She moved to Chicago to attend nursing school just prior to World War II, and through mentoring then nursing student and fellow Army Cadet Bernice Vital (later to wed Tuskeegee Airman Eugene Winslow), she met decorated Army veteran Leroy P. Vital from Port Arthur, Texas. After marrying in Marion, she joined Leroy and lived in New York City for several years in the era after the Harlem Renaissance and had their first child, Gracian.



In postwar years, Selma and Leroy moved to Chicago permanently where she worked as a registered nurse for nearly thirty years caring for injured and ill adults, newborn infants, and training younger nurses, mostly at the University of Chicago's Lying-In Hospital and Billings Hospital. Leroy graduated from the University of Chicago Law School and, with Selma's support, became a prominent African-American attorney who won several landmark civil rights cases argued in courts from Cook County to the U.S. Supreme Court. Leroy preceded Selma in 1982.



Selma enjoyed staying close to her family, loved reading, and took pride in raising her four children who earned eight college degrees among them, and caring for her grandchildren, Gabriel and Madelyn. Also preceding Selma were sisters Lovie Stewart, Frieda Goens, Marilyn Smith, and brothers, Elbert and Ralph Smith. Surviving family include children Gracian Vital, Gilman Vital, Geri (and wife Michelle) Vital, and Gregory Vital; sister Theda (and husband Cletus) Goens; brother John Smith; grandson Gabriel Priester; and granddaughter Madelyn Vital.



Selma's wish was to be cremated. Memorial service(s) will be arranged for a location in Chicago and possibly Marion on a date closer to the spring. To receive notification about the location and time, please leave your contact information in a voicemail message at 919-383-8300.

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I am very sorry for your loss. May God grant you the courage and strength and hope needed to get through this hard time.