Violet "Vi" Ruth Habash Whaley (Spencer), 90, passed away at home peacefully in
Bensenville on Saturday, June 18, 2022, surrounded by her daughters. Vi was born
April 5, 1932, in Dante, VA, a daughter of the late William Evans and Willie Leola
Vickers Spencer.

Violet grew up during the depression. She lost her father at a young age and yet
managed to rise above the hardships and poverty. She moved to Chicago at age 18
and worked numerous jobs, one of which was at a car dealership where a picture
was taken of her modeling a 1956 Chevy Bel-Air. She proudly displayed this picture
and talked about it fondly.

She was a strong and beautiful woman who passed down that inner strength to
her three daughters.

"Of all the gin joints in all the world, she walked into his." As the story goes, it was
a hot day in Chicago in 1954; Vi, her friend and sister wanted to get something to
drink and her friend suggested, "Let's stop here for a coke." What Vi didn't know
was that her friend wanted her to meet Frank. After talking with the WWII
veteran, he told her, "Remember my name, Frank Habash. It will be yours one
day." Then, on April 28, 1956 when they married in Chicago, it was.
They moved to Lemont in 1962 to raise their family and start a business, Vi's Inn.
They owned the business for over 20 years until they retired to Florida. They were
missed by many.

They remained married until Frank passed in 2000. Violet remarried in 2004 to
Hamilton Whaley and they relocated to South Carolina.
In 2014 Violet moved back to Chicago where she became a resident at Autumn
Green to be near her daughters. She lived a good life. She was a great cook and
baker. She loved singing and dancing, arranging silk flowers, traveling, antiquing,
and especially babies. She loved Sinatra and that genre, John Wayne and
westerns, and pinching the cheeks of all youngsters she met.
Preceded in death by beloved husband Frank Habash, husband Hamilton Whaley,
and siblings Danny, Glenna, and Carol.

Survived by her daughters Veronica "Ronnie" Sweeney (Habash), Bernard
Sweeney of Waldoboro ME, Jennifer "Jenn" Habash of Montgomery IL, Frances
"Francie" Imes (Habash), Chris Imes of Bensenville, IL, siblings Darlene Orobey,
Doris Sossie, Betty Allen, Calvin Baker (Suzie), grandchildren Erin Sweeney, Brian
Sweeney, Emily Imes, Mackinley Imes and numerous nieces and nephews.
Violet's family will celebrate her life at a later date in Florida, at which time her
ashes will be placed next to her loving late husband, Frank.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Violet's name to the Alzheimer's Foundation, www.alz.org