Rae Ann Vigen
Tuesday, February 11, 1947
Date of Death:
Friday, April 10, 2020
Age:
73 years old
Tuesday, February 11, 1947
Date of Death:
Friday, April 10, 2020
Age:
73 years old
Tuesday, February 11, 1947
Date of Death:
Friday, April 10, 2020
Age:
73 years old
Rae Ann Vigen
With heavy hearts, wonderful memories and lots and lots of love, our Little Rae of Sunshine has been called to heaven to be with her Lord on Friday, April 10, 2020.
Rae Ann (Stocker) Vigen was born February 11, 1947 in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She was born the second daughter of 10 girls (no boys) to Ralph and Dolores (Travnick) Stocker. Rae grew up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota and went to Sacred Heart Catholic Grade School where she played the organ for Masses in high school, played the bells in the band, and was a cheerleader. During the summers, she drove the grain truck for her father, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Rae met her high school sweetheart and best friend, James S. Vigen at East Grand Forks Senior High. They were married on July 23, 1966 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in East Grand Forks. The two were married for 53 years and had three beautiful daughters: Laurie, Jackie and Jody.
Rae attended Rochester Community College for her Associates RN degree, Mayo School of Health Related Science from 1980-1983 for her Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist degree and the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL from 1987-1990 for her B.S. in Health Science.
She was employed at North Western Bell Telephone as an operator from 1965-1969. Rae began her 36 years of employment at Mayo Clinic as an anesthesia tech from 1974-1978. She then worked at St. Marys Hospital as a Nurse from 1978-1980, and then as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (Cardiac and Cath. Lab Anesthetist) from 1980-2010 when she retired.
Her hobbies included crocheting, crosswords, sudoku, reading, ceramics, traveling to Arizona every winter, golfing, playing piano and organ, couples bowling leagues, making tie blankets for the Women’s Shelter, helping with Channel One and cooking for Dorothy Day House. Most importantly of all for many, many years, Rae avidly watched and cheered for all her grandkids at their sporting events.
She belonged to the Catholic Daughters of America at St. Clements of Rome, and Ceramics Club in Sun City, AZ, and AANA. Rae was a 33 year member of Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester, serving as an eucharistic minister and greeter.
Rae Ann always had a positive attitude, and shared her hope, strength, and great smile with her friends and loved ones, as well as everyone she cared for as a CRNA. She took pride in her work, making patients feel comfortable and safe under her care.
Rae is survived by her loving husband, her rock who gave his unconditional love for 53 years, James Vigen of Byron; 3 daughters: Laurie (David) Mihalik of Sun City, AZ, Jackie Yeigh of Byron and Jody (Mark) Roble of Byron, MN; nine grandchildren: Ehrich Rodgers, Kylie, Austin, Kate and Aaron Yeigh, Andrew, Stacy (Klein), Leah, and Amber Roble; one great-grandchild, Brayden; father, Ralph Stocker; 9 sisters: Dar (David) Smith, Cathy (Rick) Coulter, Linda (Dennis) DeMers, Becky (Timothy) Gaddie, Peggy (Jeff) Arne, Pam (James) Gabriel, Kim (Greg) Kaiser, Teri (Steve) Johnson, and Cindy (Chuck) Proulx; numerous nieces and nephews; special friend and her second family: Hazel, Tom, and Elora;
She was preceded in death by her mother, Dolores; brother-in-law, Greg Kaiser; mother and father-in-law: Myrene and Orlin Vigen; and sister-in-law, Judy Vigen.
Memorials are preferred to Gigi’s Playhouse in Fargo, ND, Seasons Hospice, Channel One Food Shelf, Rochester Women’s Shelter, Sacred Heart Catholic Schools in East Grand Forks, MN, or to the donor’s choice.
The Memorial Mass for Rae Ann will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Rochester with Rev. Peter Schuster officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass at church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Mayo Clinic Oncology, everyone in the Chemo Department, and all the RNs and those on the Transitional Care Team who helped her. Thank you to Seasons Hospice who provided wonderful care and comfort to her family, and to all who were on this journey with them. Love you all.
Condolences
The family of Rae Ann Vigen has received the following condolences.
Jim and girls, my thoughts are with you everyday. You had a wonderful partner and mother a truly giving soul. I miss her and I know you will miss her for ajim long long time probably forever no she is not having pain her illness is over. Actually I'm at a loss what to say wounds are still so Raw I'm thinking of you every day.
We will miss seeing RaeAnn’s smile at Mr Pizza North. She was always positive, kind, and friendly. My heart goes out to you all and may the good memories of happy times bring you peace.
Heather Jacobson and Mark Fulton
Dear Jackie, Jim, Laurie and Jody,
My heart is heavy having heard about Rae Ann's passing. Know that we are thinking of you and wish you peace and comfort as you celebrate Rae Ann's remarkable life.
With deepest sympathy,
Jeff Nelson
Dear Jim, Jackie and family,
Condolences to you and your entire family. Rae always had a twinkle in her eyes especially when she spoke about her family. She will continue to inspire you and there will be many happy memories and stories to share. It was a pleasure to know her, work beside her and laugh with her.
Take care,
Rita Marquardt
I am so very sorry to hear this news. My thoughts and prayers to the Vigen family. I know it has been a while since I have seen you all but I will always remember Rae Ann and her kind smile. Such a beautiful family! Love, Diane
Jim & Family
Ward and I will surely miss our “Rae” of Sunshine and her friendship in our neighborhood
We are truly so so sorry for the loss of your dear wife Jim, the mother of your girls and the wonderful grandmother to all her grandkids she spoke about often!
Our prayers to you all ??
Ward & Deb Brossoit
Dear Jim, Laurie, Jackie and Jody,
We want to extend our condolences to all of you. What a nice obituary detailing some of RaeAnn's life. We never knew she was such a talented go-getter. Our lives during these times are so unsettling, but if there is a service at a later date, we hope to attend. Your family must be greatly grieving the death of RayAnn. Hopefully remembering all the good times give you some comfort.
Bernie and Eddie Peterson
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.
Jim and Family,
Our deepest Sympathy to all the family. We enjoyed being with her & Jim at all of our daughters games etc.
Our prayers are with you all. Take care of Jim!
So sorry to hear of RaeAnn's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the entire family. Blessed be her memory!
Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of RaeAnn. I worked with her for many years at Mayo and she was always very pleasant to work with. She always had a smile on her face and was very dedicated to her patients and her profession. Her spirit will live on with her family and all the patients whose lives she touched. Truly a life well lived!
Dear Family, I am so sorry for the loss of your RaeAnn. I look forward to seeing you when we are able to meet for a service. Until then please be taking especially good care of yourselves as you face your very different world without RaeAnn.
With shared love,
Jerry Porter
Jackie and family, please accept my sympathy on the loss of your mother and grandmother.. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one.. find support in remembering all the happy memories and fun happy times you shared. Even with relief that her suffering is over the loss is great. Blessings to all of you..
Carol J Peterson [friend and co-worker of Jackie and fellow parishioner at Resurrection]
Jim and family,
I don’t have the best words right now. Of course you had her longer than you thought, but never long enough. May Jesus bring you peace in the waiting until you see her again in Heaven. What an honor it was to know RaeAnn and be loved by her!
Cyndi
We are so sorry for your loss. Our
prayers are with you all..
Rae Ann,
TY so very much for being you; you never judged but were always full of love and made my career in the Cath Lab a joy. May your sweet husband Jim know that you were loved, adored and full of life. Christ's promise, John 3:16, we will all be together again one day. George and Theresa
Jim and Family, We were saddened to read of RaeAnn’s passing. We remember the hours we spent volunteering with the Vigens at Hawthorne fundraisers. You were such a dynamic couple,Jim, and we are so glad our paths crossed. Our deepest sympathies.
We extend our sympathy to the entire family! Please know you are in thoughts and prayers. Rae Ann was a great CRNA and she has given loving memories to all. Hoping these memories bring joy back to your lives soon.
John and Cherrie Ahle
To all Rae ANN family
So sorry to hear about your loss. I worked with Rae Ann for years in Cardiac Cath Lab she was a Beautiful, Loving and Caring woman!! I was able to see her and visit whenever she attended her granddaughter Leah’s sporting /school events. Leah and my granddaughter Atley are dear friends. Sending our deepest condolences to you and your family at this difficult time.
Rick & Char Lutzi
I am so sorry for your loss. I have very fond memories of hanging out with you guys for Christmases at Grandma and Grandpa Vigen's house. Almost all of my memories of RaeAnn are of her smiling, laughing, or giggling. It was really nice to see Jim and RaeAnn for my dad's 75th birthday celebration and Jake's wedding, too. I hope that all your fond memories of her will bring you comfort and peace. You have our deepest sympathy. Take care of each other. Stacy, Brad, Zach and Matt Ludwig
Dear Jim & Family,
We are so very sad for all of you. Anyone who knew Rae knew how very important she was to your entire family. She was such a kind woman who would do anything for anyone, whether she knew them or not. We were so blessed to get to know her so well and spend so much time with her ar and away from the baseball field. She was loved by many and will be missed by all of us! May all the thoughts and prayers coming your way lift you up during this very difficult time.
Sincerely,
Robin & Scott
We extend our heartfelt sympathy to you and your wonderful family at this time of loss. RaeAnn will be sorely missed and it will never be able to replace her, but her presence will be with you forever! Cherish your memories.
My heartfelt condolences to the entire Vigen family. So many wonderful memories on 10th street, and then very thankful for reconnecting at Erich’s and my youngest son, Grant, sporting events. May God wrap you in a loving embrace during this difficult time. Sending hugs and prayers.
Jim and Family ...
Our thoughts and prayers go out to You and your family at RaeAnn's passing. God Bless you all ???❤
We are so sorry for your loss! Please let us know if there is anything we can do! Thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Love you all!!
So sorry to hear about ReaAnn our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family