Age 94, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Grand Blanc. Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 am, Saturday, September 5, 2026, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 7296 Gale Road, Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439. Father David Howell will officiate. Victoria’s family will be present to receive friends at Detroit Cremation Society, 8253 S. Saginaw St. in Grand Blanc, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday September 4, 2026. On Friday evening, family, friends, and parish will gather for a vigil service at 7:00 pm. On Saturday morning, Victoria will be taken to church to lie in state from 9:00 am until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:00 am. Cremation will follow.

Victoria Valeria Totten was born on March 7, 1932, in Melvindale, Michigan, the daughter of Victor and Mary (Mun) Melian. Service to others began early in Victoria’s life. Her mother owned a family grocery store, where Vickie spent many hours taking inventory, stocking shelves, and waiting on customers. From a young age, she learned the value of hard work, responsibility, and caring for others.

Vickie graduated from St. Francis High School in 1949 at the age of 17. The following year, she met her beloved husband, Robert Dale Totten, through their parish youth group. Dale, as he was known to family and loved ones, and Bob to acquaintances and coworkers, quickly fell in love with Vickie. They were married on December 26, 1950, when Dale came home from the U.S. Army on a three-day leave.

Together, Vickie and Dale built a loving family. Their five children were born in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, and 1962, keeping Vickie very busy as a devoted wife and mother.

When her youngest child started kindergarten, Vickie applied for a position with Kenner Toys as a demonstrator. She quickly exceeded expectations and was soon promoted to Sales Representative. Vickie became one of Kenner’s top sales representatives, known not only for her success but for the genuine care she showed her customers, especially the small Mom-and-Pop stores.

Every February, Vickie traveled to New York City for Toy Fair, where new toys and products for the coming year were introduced and orders were placed. She would spend three weeks in New York presenting the newest products to buyers from across the country. She loved her work, and her enthusiasm, dedication, and ability to build relationships made her exceptionally successful.

When she wasn’t working, some of Vickie’s happiest days were spent at their cottage on Lake LeAnn. She treasured sharing the cottage with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She could often be found floating in the water while watching the children play, preparing meals, visiting with friends and family, and, of course, watching the dogs chase the waves away.

The days at the cottage were filled with water, laughter, and family fun, while the evenings meant games around the table. Charades became a family favorite and remains a treasured memory for generations of the family.

And then there were the meals. Trips to the local farmer brought home fresh corn on the cob, tomatoes, cucumbers, and more. With Mr. T cooking burgers on the grill, the family gatherings were complete. For Vickie, the cottage was never simply a place—it was where family came together and memories were made.

Vickie’s commitment to helping others took on a deeply personal meaning when her son, Mark David, was killed by a drunk driver. In the years that followed, she and Dale became deeply involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Vickie volunteered for many years as a Victim Advocate, standing beside families whose lives had been changed by a drunk driver. She helped them navigate the court system and offered comfort, understanding, and support during extraordinarily difficult times. Vickie and Dale were also instrumental in efforts to strengthen the rights of victims of drunk driving. What began with unimaginable personal loss became another chapter in Vickie’s lifelong commitment to serving others.

After retiring from Kenner Toys, Vickie continued to work and serve others. She worked as a Concierge at the Dearborn Inn and later at Oakwood Hospital as an Adult Sitter. In that role, she comforted and calmed patients who had been admitted to the hospital under serious stress. Caring for people came naturally to Vickie, and she brought warmth and reassurance wherever she went.

Vickie’s zest for life and her determination to remain active continued even after she and Dale moved into assisted living. She embraced nearly every activity available to her, keeping her days full and her spirit engaged. She became a top bowler on their Wii bowling league, learned to paint, created countless crafts, and began collecting useful items to donate to people in need.

She even encouraged other residents to join her cause, asking them to use their Bingo winnings to purchase items for donation. Each week, St. Mark’s would pick up the donations and put them into the hands of those who needed them. Vickie never stopped looking for ways to make life a little better for someone else.

Vickie was a woman of energy, determination, compassion, and tremendous love. She worked hard, played hard, loved her family fiercely, and never lost her desire to be of service to others. She created a lifetime of memories—from the grocery store where she learned the value of work, to the sales floor and the bright lights of Toy Fair, to quiet days floating on Lake LeAnn, and finally to the many acts of kindness she continued throughout her later years.

She leaves behind a family who will carry her love and her example forward.

Vickie is survived by her children, Robert Dale Totten and his wife, Jean, Denise and her husband, Dennis Sebastian, and Barrie Lynn and her husband, Bill Wood; her grandchildren, Rob and his wife, Kim, Brian and his wife, Alyssa, Heather, Matthew and his wife, Katie, Christopher and his wife, Sara, Janene and her husband, Nate, Jeffrey and his wife, Jessica, Tami, Kristen and her husband, Jeremy, Daniel, and Mark; her great-grandchildren, Josh, Emily, Brendan, Aidan, Shana, Kayla, Kairi, Riley, Ryan, Brennan, Myla, Lincoln, Stella, Lydia, Ashlyn, Austin, Lucas, Liam, Kelsie, Kyla, Joel, Adlyn, Maddy, Ethan, and Ella; her great-great-grandchildren, Lenya and Marrin; as well as several nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Victoria was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Dale Totten; her daughter, Karen; her son, Mark David; her grandchildren, Maria and Robert Dale III; her great-grandson, Keegan; and her three siblings.

Her love, laughter, strength, generosity, and unwavering commitment to family will remain a part of the lives of all who knew and loved her.

Victoria’s obituary was written by her loving family.