Modesto Vigil

Modesto Vigil, a longtime Roswell resident passed away on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 surrounded by his family. As an award winning educator, he dedicated his entire career to educating and inspiring Roswell youths of four different decades; Modesto was an English and Business teacher with the Roswell Independent School District for thirty-two years at Goddard High School. After retiring, he went on to be a special education assistant with Albuquerque Public Schools at Del Norte High School. He was also an Army veteran as a member of the 101st Airborne during the time of the Vietnam War.

Modesto was born to Felipe B. Vigil and Luce Sandoval Lara on August 5, 1940, in Roswell New Mexico. Both precede him in death. He attended the Roswell Schools and graduated from Roswell High School in 1959. He graduated Western New Mexico University in 1964 with a bachelors degree and in 1974 with a masters degree in English.

In 1963, he married Beatrice Sisneros at St. Johns Catholic Church in Roswell. They had been married for a rich and happy forty-five years. He is survived by Beatrice.

Other survivors include his sons Steven and his wife Raya Vigil, Daniel and his wife Windi Vigil and granddaughter Chloe Vigil.

He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Trina Burrola, Mary Mitchell, Dolly Reyes, and Johnie Vigil Hoffrage and one brother Arthur Vigil. Mr. Vigil also is survived by Beatrice Ascencio from Fresno, California and two sisters in Roswell, Polly Lara Najar and Dora Torres.

The pall bearers for Mr. Vigil will be nephews Henry Alaniz, Richard Garcia, Kenneth Headley, Larry Reyes and Phil Reyes and cousin, Benny Apodaca.

The Rosary will be held on Friday, May 1st at 7:00 PM, and the funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 2nd at 9:30 AM. Both will occur at St. Johns Catholic Church. Interment will follow the service at South Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Vigil had requested that any remembrances be donated to the Community Kitchen, P.O Box 3010 in Roswell, NM 88202.

He was a man, take him for all in all. I shall not look upon his like again.

- Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. An online guest register can be accessed at www.ballardfuneralhome.com.
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Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home
910 S. Main
Roswell, NM  88203
Thursday, April 30, 2009
5p.m.7 p.m.

Service

Rosary

St. Johns Catholic Church
506 S. Lincoln
Roswell, NM  88203
Friday, May 1, 2009
7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass

St. Johns Catholic Church
506 S. Lincoln
Roswell, NM  88203
Saturday, May 2, 2009
9:30 a.m.

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

Community Kitchen
P.O. Box 30101
Roswell, NM  88202