Emma Vigil

Emma Vigil passed away Sunday, January 16, 2022, in a local rehab facility.

A memorial service will be held at 4 PM on Friday, January 21, 2022, at Lake Shore Funeral Home with Reverend Amos Humphries officiating.

Click here to View the Live Stream of the Service.

A graveside service will be held on Monday, January 24 at 2 PM in Oakwood Cemetery.

Emma Ernestine Vigil was born September 13, 1945 to Alfonso and Isabel (Bernal) Castilleja in Calvert, Texas. She was one of nine children but later in life met one of her half-siblings who she loved and adored. As a young girl growing up in a small town, she enjoyed music and dancing and being with her family. After graduating from Calvert High School, she decided to move to the big city of Waco where she met her husband Ramon Vigil. They were married November 30, 1965 and with humble beginnings they worked hard to raise and provide for their two sons, Freddy and Ramon Jr. Emma worked many years as a seamstress for Waco Apparel, Big J Apparel, and eventually became a line supervisor while working for Fab-Knit. She had such a sweet spirit that she often struggled with her supervisor position because she hated to reprimand anyone on her line. When she thought she wasn’t tough, she learned how tough she could be as she retired to care for her husband. When her husband was diagnosed with cancer, she became a nurse and full-time caretaker until his passing. Years later, her dance partner Louis became her life partner until the end. Together they became grandparents to Olivia and Andrew. Nothing was more important to her or made her happier than being a grandmother. Emma absolutely loved and spoiled Olivia and Andrew. With her first grandchild being a girl, she went overboard and would buy anything girly or pink. When her grandson came along, he got anything that rolled or made loud noises. She often told Ramon, “Son, these are my only grandchildren and I can spoil them if I want to!” Family was so important to her and nothing made her happier than getting the family together to enjoy great food and music. She will be missed by many.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ramon Vigil Sr.; both her parents; sister, Gloria Gonzales; and brothers, Alfonso (Jr.) Castilleja and Henry Castilleja.

She is survived by her partner Louis Munos; sons, Freddy Vigil and Ramon Vigil Jr. and wife Stacy; sisters, Janie Ramirez, and Isabel (Twinky) Perez; brothers, Robert Castilleja, Paul Castilleja, Rudy Castilleja, Joe Castilleja; grandchildren, Olivia and Andrew; and numerous nieces and nephews and her loving sisters-in-law.

Honorary pallbearers will be Philip Gilmore, Torrey Burns, Francisco (Paco) Almendarez, Dwayne Park, Robert Castilleja Jr., and Matthew Rodriquez.

The family would like to give a big thank you to Twinky Perez for all the time she spent caring for her big
sister Emma in her last few months. It made her so happy to have someone be with her during her stay in the hospital.