Viola Cristan

Cristan, Viola 87, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her children on Dec. 16, 2014. Devoted and loving wife of the late Oliver. Most loving and wonderful mother of Rosie (Kent) Rice, Robert (Sandy) Cristan, Carol (David) Niles and Tracy (Ron) Hedrick; adoring nonna to Mark (Brooke), Chad (Vanessa), Emma, Tessa, Oliver, Ruthie, Olivia and Jordan; super bisnonna to Wellington and Walker. Also survived by brothers the late Angelo, Olivo, Gene and Peter, sisters Olimpia, Pina and Elda, special cousin John (Janet) Formolo, as well as other relatives and friends here and in Italy. Special thanks to the caring staff at St. Camillus where Viola lived the past 3 years, and to the 3SW and Palliative Care staff at Froedtert. Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 19, 4-6 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Church, 92nd and Capitol, Milwaukee, with the Mass of Christian Burial at 6 p.m. Memorials appreciated for the St. Vincent de Paul Society or a food pantry of your choice. Private entombment at Holy Cross. Along with being an incredible homemaker, she also worked many years at St. Margaret Mary School and volunteered at St. Anne's Home. Anyone who tasted Viola's homemade spaghetti sauce, gnoche, polenta, spedini, canederli, soups, cookies, along with homegrown vegetables from her garden, know what an incredible cook she was, and that her secret ingredient was love.