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Viv Foster O.B.E
Passed away on Tuesday 28th April 2026 aged 80.
Funeral service will be held at the North Devon Crematorium, Rowan Chapel, on Monday 1st June at 1.30pm.
Funeral Service
Location:
North Devon Crematorium
Old Torrington Road
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 3NW
Foster by name and Foster by nature,
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Viv was our second mum when we were at boarding school at Edgehill. She was always welcoming, kind and looked after us at weekends. Viv taxied us around or collected us from discos and other events, made us lovely meals and was our second mum while we were away from home!
She remained interested in all of us long after we had left school and continued to care and look after us even when we had our own families!
I will always be grateful to her and her girls for their love and support.
Viv even when given her terminal diagnosis, was welcoming, beautiful and upbeat.
A truly inspirational lady, who achieved so much in her lifetime but remained the same lady that I knew from being a 10 year old.
I will always be very grateful to her and her girls for their love and kindness that they have given me and my family
On behalf of the Westward Ho! Pétanque Club
We first met Viv in January 2022 when she graced herself upon us at Westward Ho pétanque club. A humble lady shielding a wealth of knowledge, dignity and compassion for life as a campaigner and fund raiser “extraordinaire” She never boasted about her tireless work nor the O.B.E. Until much later on.
The game became a wholehearted and exciting new routine for her as she told us she knew the extra fitness gained would help her to walk ” The Mall” later that year. We all saw her proudly lay the wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of the Merchant Navy.
Viv will also be remembered as Gifted with magical organisation skills, that could spring into action as she did for The Sausage n Sizzle Parties with full on games with a host of jokes, stories and Aphorisms from her repertoire and book ” Pearls of Wisdom. Viv was also absolutely brilliant as host at the RNLI charity fashion show in 2025.
Her vibrant spirit and fun was intoxicating at pétanque and she quickly coined a recognizable phrase “Shall we take the one”
We are just so saddened not to have known her for longer and will be greatly missed.
Auntie Viv was part of the fabric of our childhood in the 60s, and of our parents’ lives for all the years since then. She and her mum (our Auntie Joan) were the women who sorted everyone out. Strong women who stood up for people, fought for what they believed was right, and were never afraid to speak up when something mattered.
We saw auntie Viv as capable, determined, generous, and yes, wonderfully formidable at times too, especially as she aged. She was the mastermind behind many plots and plans, and
brought energy wherever she went, helped many people and left a lasting impression on everyone around her.
We will remember her with affection, respect, and gratitude for the role she played through so many chapters of our family’s life.
With love,
The 4 Palmer kids (now nearly all pensioners!)
Viv was an amazing lady, always positive, happy and a pleasure to be around. We will particularly miss her company in NZ and our games of Bananagram, even though we never managed to beat her. Her G&Ts, potato dauphinoise and profiteroles were legend and our visits to Waiheke’s 372 Restaurant for nibbles and cocktails will never be quite the same without her.
The world has been a better place for her life, in particular her tireless work on behalf of The Merchant Navy Association & the RNLI. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.
Dearest wonderful VIV,
What amazing wonderful times we have spent together over many years.
As well as Waiheke recently, our wonderful stay with you last year which was amazing and feels so tangible.
Memories and stories people only read in books!!!
As you have said “The real life experiences are the real ones.”
Your love, laughter, fun, quick wit, generosity, sense of adventure, creativity, tenacity for hard work, endurance, and making the most of hard times, strength, and love of family, world knowledge, your unique style to floof up and dress for the occasion, even making a nighty look like a Harrods evening dress in a prestigious London club, and fake diamond rings from the Buckingham Palace op shop to top off the attire!
Your palatial style of home decor with lived-in comfort.
Your year’s of entertaining with such style and your amazing cooking are SO well known all over the world.
So many amazing qualities for one person.
All the incredible life you’ve been living.
Your hard earned OBE
Admirals, Dukes, Lord’s, Princesses, the King.
Your ability for meaningful conversations with anyone.
Many and varied.
Sooo many wonderful memories!
England, France, Greek cruises, Venice and “call the launch”, not forgetting Waiheke and Gisborne in good old New Zealand.
Love, fun and people in all these places.
As you and I know – it’s the people who are the memories, not the Eiffel tower and Trafalgar square.
They are the backdrop.
And wow!, what amazing backdrops we’ve shared.. ❤️
Dearest Viv, rest after all your hard work over the years and your wonderful, amazing life, and be at peace.
I love you forever Viv. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Your dear New Zealand friend,
Georgie
Dear Penny Sisters and friends ;
Vive was a wonderful Lady ,kind, knowledgeble and will be remembered for her dedication to the freight fighters , Cargo carriers during the second World war . Vives OBE was well deserved and was just one aspect of her dedicated life .I remember Vive as a very modest Lady but there was one skill that was outstanding for me was her cooking and food presentation. It was exquisite and delicious . I hunger for her skills ,kindness and generosity .
Vive will be missed by everyone she met;
Sadly David
Dear Viv
Thanks so much for being such a trustworthy, caring friend and confidante during your many years of Waiheke summers. The beautiful red carpet of Pohutukawa flower needles will always await your regal December arrival…alas in vain now but you know we’ll always be toasting you with France’s finest and remembering our beautiful and kind,, strong and accomplished, loyal and loving friend. Much aroha and thoughts to your family. Travel well Viv. Ronnie xx
Dear Viv
What a memorable person you are. Wherever you go there is fun, laughter, mischief, great food and plenty of stories.
It has been a pleasure sharing time with you all over the world- London, Gisborne, Auckland , Waiheke, Gisborne, Raveningham House ( riding your bike alongside me as I ran), Devon and as my cabin mate on a cruise in Greece.
Your profiteroles are legendary.
We will miss you. Rest well. You have left us with so many wonderful memories.
Love Greta, Leon, Cleo and Felix xxox
RIP dearest Viv – you will be much missed in New Zealand where you visited annually, wowed us with your culinary feasts and entertained us with your funny stories. Here you are at a Waiheke party in honour of The Queen, with your friend from Sydney Wendy King- both looking just as regal as Her Majesty❤️
To Viv’s beautiful family,
We are left with such wonderful & special memories of our dear Viv which we will forever cherish. Our Viv was a “one off’ never to be repeated.
Grayden & I feel so very privileged to have called her our dear friend.
You are all in our hearts at this time.
Grayden & Wendy.
❤️ 💙
Thank you Viv for all you gave us and others. Meals at your table were some of the finest and your love and generosity second to none. Huge love to Steph, Jo and Pen. Xx
Goodbye to Lady Vivian, our very own Northern matriarch and star of the silver screen. A real grafter, ridiculously capable, strong, brave, ever loving and always great fun you showed us how to live life to the full. We hope you’re looking down on us whilst whipping up a batch of scones and opening a bottle of fizz as you hear how very loved you are. Big hugs to Penny, Steph and Jo xxx
Dearest Gin Gin,
You will missed so much on Waiheke. I always looked forward to Viv’s annual visits to Waiheke in the summertime. I first met Viv when I started working for Penny about eight years ago, and it wasn’t long before Viv became “Gin Gin” to me. She was so welcoming and loving that I became family to her.
Some of my fondest memories of your time on Waiheke were playing card games & banana gram ( Penny was always sure you were cheating but I think you were just really good at winning ) *wink*
& of course the multiple cocktails in the sunshine at 372 admiring the view.
We will miss your stories but they will carry on being told xx
Immy,
Cam & The boys
Gosh we’re going to miss the arrival of Gin Gin this Christmas. The herald of summer, Viv’s arrival lifted the spirits of everyone she drew in. With wisdom, grace and the best sense of fun Viv worked hard, played hard and loved even harder
. With huge admiration and much love to Penny, Steph and Jo. Moe moi rā Viv, rest easy.
Viv, Steph, Jo, Penny, such beautiful people and so many memories. Viv, thank you for welcoming me into your family 40 years ago, pain in the backside that I was! The lifelong, enduring friendships with your amazing daughters and grandsons have yielded golden moments for me and Julia and long may that continue. Quite how I’m going to cope without your legendary cream teas, I’m really not sure! Wish we could give you all a big hug. Viv, from down under in NZ, we raise a glass or two of Verve to a life lived to the full. Miss you loads, Julia and Shaun xxxx
Always in my thoughts – such a lovely and special friend