Katherine Vigil

Katherine Vigil, 89, of Denver, Colorado passed away on September 10, 2012. Katherine Vigil was born in Taos, NM. She had 2 brothers and 3 sisters. After high school she moved to Denver and worked at Gates Rubber Company. She met her future husband dancing – which became one of their favorite pastimes. They became known as Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Her main concern in her life was to make her family happy. She was truly a homemaker and totally unselfish. Her catholic religion was important part of her life. Praying the rosary was a daily routine for her. She practiced her faith and lived it. She was a very strong catholic. Katherine was not a career person. She made sure her home was perfect in every way. Her family – her husband Phillip, her 3 daughters (Clare, Toni and Bobbie), her 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren were the most important things in her life. She always placed them first. She led a very simple life but was much fulfilled. Who could ask for more? Her daughters' fondest memory was riding the bus downtown with their mom, shopping and then going to Woolworth for a slice of pizza and a coke. Katherine always wore high heels when she went shopping. She made sure she had her had hair done and was always dressed elegantly. She always helped out at Bobbie's Camp Fire Girls summer camp and when she was competing in her swim meets, Katherine was always on the sideline cheering her on. Also, the after school snack was always homemade hot tortillas with peanut butter….even the neighborhood kids would stop by after school just to get this snack. Clare also remembers the year that Bobbie was born, right before Halloween. Bringing Bobbie home from the hospital really screwed up her trick or treating. She was dressed in her costume, ready to go trick or treating with the neighbors but then it was cancelled because she came home with the new baby. Her grandchildren have many different memories. They stem from Grandma building forts with blankets so that Rob could watch Wild, Wild West, letting Denyse win at monopoly even though she knew that Denyse was cheating. Brian remembers playing in the crawl space with Rob, Grandma would yell for them to get out or she would go get Grandpa. We did not get out of the crawl space and she never went to get Grandpa. Whenever Julie would spend the night at Grandma's house she would cover her face with the blanket and Grandma would always come in and check on her to make sure she was still breathing. Grandma knew that to get to Devon's heart just feed him. Devon remembers Grandma always having a burrito for him when he visited. It didn't matter whether he just dropped in to say Hi; she always made him a burrito. He would eat that burrito whether he was hungry or not. Grandma's bedtime ritual was wrapping her beauty shop done hair with toilet paper and putting cream on her face. Her granddaughters loved to partake in this ritual with her when they spent the night. There are so many wonderful memories but not enough time to share them all. Katherine was the most loving, gentle and unselfish person you would ever want to meet. She was a pistol but instilled values and many wonderful qualities to her children and grandchildren. We love you Mom and Grandma and will miss you greatly. Beloved wife of Felipe. Mother of Clare (Kent) Gregory, Antoinette Watkins and Bobbie (Tim) Fitzgerald. Grandmother of 6 & great-grandmother of 4. Recitation of the Rosary will be Tuesday, September 18, 2012, 7:00pm at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado 80227. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, September 19, 10:00am at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80219. Interment to follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, Colorado 80235. Please share your memories of Katherine and condolences with her family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" link.