Obituary of Alice Vigneau

Alice McHugh Vigneau, a woman devoted to her family, faith, and community passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, December 14, 2016 with her family by her side. She was 93 years old. Alice was born in Woburn, the daughter of the late Joseph and Elizabeth McHugh. She resided in Woburn, Billerica, and Arlington. After graduating from Billerica High School, she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Regis College in Weston, a noteworthy accomplishment for a woman at that time. She began her career as a dietician in a Boston hospital, and then discovered her true passion as a teacher in Brewster then Sharon. She interrupted her career to begin a family, and eventually returned as a substitute teacher before joining the staff of the Home Economics Department in the Burlington Public School System. She taught at the Francis Wyman Middle School and the Marshall Simonds Middle School from 1966 to 1984. There are many Burlington Alumni who continue to use the skills that she taught them. When you talk about Alice, one has to include her husband Robert “Bob”. She first met Bob when she and her sister were sitting on the wall at Simonds Park, waiting for Bob, who had volunteered to drive them to a 4-H Camp at the University of Massachusetts. Their courtship endured through World War II when Bob was called to serve his country. When he returned from the War, they were married at Saint James Church in Arlington and subsequently purchased a home in Burlington. Bob was active in Burlington politics when he decided to run for State Representative. Alice always supported Bob’s endeavors. She was the planner, the coordinator and the manager of his campaigns. Alice ran the office for Bob’s accounting practice. They always worked as a team, but Alice avoided the spotlight. Alice was a woman of deep faith and very devoted to her church. She was a parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church when it was a small wooden church on the corner of Winn Street and Center Street. She participated in the fundraising to build the new St. Margaret’s Church on Winn Street. Alice was a member of the Couples’ Club, Sodality, and the Catholic Daughters. She helped with the church bazaars, organized the communion breakfasts, and taught religious education classes. She had a strong commitment to the church and supported the many pastors and priests stationed at Saint Margaret’s. Her strong faith in the church provided her family great comfort in the passing of her daughter and their sister Patrice in 1976 and Bob in 1992. Alice always placed her family first. Her devotion and dedication to her family’s happiness and wellbeing was indisputable. Even when her children were adults, she still lovingly watched over them and their children. She was a beautiful, loving, caring, kind and compassionate woman who her family looked to for guidance and strength throughout their lives. Her influence will be felt for generations. She accomplished this in a humble manner with the refinement and grace of a true lady. Alice was the beloved wife of the late State Representative Robert A. Vigneau. She was the loving mother of Mary Vamivakas & her husband Nickolas of Burlington, Therese Scammon & her husband Leo of Burlington, Robert Vigneau, Jr. & his wife Joanne of Burlington, Peter Vigneau & his wife Deborah of Burlington, Paul Vigneau of Woburn, and the late Patrice Vigneau. She was predeceased by her siblings; Mary Palmieri, Thomas McHugh, Helen Larkin, Elizabeth Mullen, and Rev. Joseph B. McHugh, S.J. Alice was the proud grandmother of Nickolas Vamivakas, Jr., Patrice Mudivarti, Alice Bhukhmohan, Tara Kosinski, Robert Scammon, Brenna Rose, Robert, III, Ian, Bevin, Jaclyn, Lauren, and Peter “PJ” Vigneau, Jr. She is also survived by her 8 great grandchildren, her many nieces, her many nephews, and friends. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) o n Monday, December 19 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday from 5-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorial donations in Alice’s name may be made to People Helping People, P.O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803.