THE body of nurse Vivenne Abrams was yesterday laid to rest following glowing tributes during a thanksgiving service for her life at the St. Mary of the Virgin Anglican Church, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.   Chief celebrant was the Reverend Raymond Coxall. There were three viewings of the body to facilitate the hundreds wishing to pay their last respects to the health worker who had lived her life in service of people.
Viewings were held at Jerrick’s Funeral Home, Paradise, East Coast Demerara; at the Abrams’ home, Non Pariel, also on the East Coast Demerara and at the church.
Pathetically, when she was killed by a speeding truck Sunday morning, Nurse Abrams had just finished delivering a baby at Melanie Damishana, and was on her way to provide medical home care for another patient.
Appreciative of the life she lived, and the service she rendered to others, Guyanese came out in their numbers – from just about every community within reach, to pay their last respects.
The church was filled to capacity, with scores of standees literally overspilling into the church yard and braving the heat of the sun.
During the tributes and many expressions of gratitude by relatives, friends, past patients and working colleagues within the health sector, there was consensus that Nurse Abrams was a champion in her time, with the passion and fervor for the job that made her a modern day Florence Nightingale.

Those who knew her at a personal level, referred to her as “CC” and lamented the pain of her loss, adding that she will be greatly missed by all those, whose lives she’s touched.
In a tribute by her friend and working colleague, Hazel Octave, she was alluded to as a true friend and nurse … a midwife ‘par excellence’ and God’s gift to humanity. Octave recalled Nurse Abrams loved life and loved people, adding that she served her country courageously and with pride, and was always ready to go the extra mile, to the extent that she died in the execution of her duties.
        
Abrams joined the nursing profession in 1976 as a Nursing Assistant and started out working at the Georgetown Public Hospital. She studied for exams, was successful, and by 1987, on the basis of merit, was able to enter the midwifery programme.   As a midwife, she served at hospitals and health centres, including the GPHC, Bartica in Region 7, Lethem in Region 9 and Beterverwagting and  Melanie Damishana, Region 4. She retired from Melanie Damishana as Nurse in Charge.
There were tributes from family members and friends as well. Nurse Vivenne Abrams, at the time of her death, was finalizing arrangements for migrating to the United States. Nurse Abrams leaves to mourn one son and a daughter, several sisters and brothers and other relatives and friends.