Our mom, Viola Abbott, was born on November 10, 1925 in Syracuse, N.Y. She was the daughter of Olindo and Josephine Paoletti. She was one of seven children: Armand Paoletti, Paul Paoletti, Frank Paoletti, Helen Tassone, Lillian Catrambome, and Anita Russell. After graduating business school, Viola worked at the Sycracuse Good Shepherd University Hospital. She was the office manager for three anesthesiologists. It took two people to fill her position when she left. She met her husband, Bob Abbott, at a Valentine’s Party.
Bob was part of the entertainment for the evening.
He plays the Hawaiian guitar. They were married on October 8, 1955 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Syracuse. They were the first couple to be married in the new church. Bob and Viola were blessed with three children: Kathleen Abbott, Robert Abbott, Jr. (wife Joyce Abbott), and Thomas Abbott (wife Elissa Abbott). They also have 4 grandchildren: Christi Fiscus (husband David), Jennifer Corey, Justin Abbott, and Meghan Abbott. In the most recent years they had the joy of knowing their two great-grandchildren: Shianne Fiscus and Dylan Fiscus.
Viola was a truly amazing woman. Despite the fact that she was confined to a wheelchair for 83 years due to polio, she never let that stop her from living life to the fullest. She was a joyful, outgoing, and compassionate woman. She loved to laugh, sing, play music, crochet, travel, and most of all care for her beloved family. She was an example to many of perseverance, courage, and love. Viola had a strong passion to help others less fortunate than herself. She was an advocate for making public places more accessible for the disabled, she attended Handicapables to reach out to the sick and lonely, she and her husband, Bob, entertained at hospitals and extended care facilities as a ministry to the elderly. Our mom also enjoyed calling shut-ins to make sure they were ok and in good spirits. Viola will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt. Her service will be held Friday, May 3rd at 10:00a.m. at St. Raphael’s Church in Goleta.
