Vivian L. Kydd, 101, of Fairhaven, formerly of New Bedford, passed away following a long period of declining health on November 15, 2010 at Alden Court Nursing Care & Rehabilitation Center.
Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late William L. and A. Clara (King) Kydd. She graduated from New Bedford High School, Poro Beauty College, Campbell Business School, and the Herrick Institute.
Miss Kydd enjoyed a 31 year career as a secretary at the U.S. Naval Station in Newport, RI until her retirement in 1973.
She was a member of the Bethel AME Church. She served as secretary for the Martha Briggs Educational Club and the New Bedford NAACP for many years and was a longstanding member and former employee of the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts. Her personal pleasures beyond her family were her outdoor gardens, raising orchids indoors, cooking gourmet foods, and traveling whenever an opportunity arose and someone in her family was available to travel with her.
She is survived by her sister, Leonora H. Whyte of New Bedford and six nieces and nephews, Yvonne M. Drayton of New Bedford, Russell J. Whyte of Palm Coast, FL, Linda Whyte Burrell of Hope Valley, RI, Geoffrey M. Whyte of Santa Rosa, CA, William L. Kydd III of Reading, MA and Douglas F. Kydd of Woodville, NH. Other survivors and former traveling companions are her ten great nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brother, William L. Kydd, Jr.
Her funeral service will be held on Friday, November 26, 2010 at 11:30AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Her family will receive visitors on Friday at 11 AM prior to the service. Interment in Rural Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Bethel AME Church Hymnal Fund, 532 County St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com