Sigrid Josephine Vaubel

It is with great sorrow that we bring you word of the death of our dear matriarch, Sigrid (Sigi) Hood Vaubel. She died peacefully in her sleep at Harrison Terrace Nursing Home after a long battle with dementia. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Donald (DD) Charles Vaubel.

She is survived by daughters, Kristin Holcomb (Tim), Karin Gearhard (Glenn), and Katrin "Kati" Moore; sister Margret Nathan; grandchildren, Nicole Holcomb (Jared Somes), Jonathan Holcomb (Kassie), Haley Clem (Jordan), Courtney Mcknight (Ryan), and Jackson Gearhard.

Sigrid graduated from Shortridge High School in 1953, finished undergraduate education at Goucher College in 1957, and graduated from Butler University with her Masters in Secondary Education.

Sigi loved cooking, baking (especially her Swedish Christmas breads), camping, and playing cribbage with the family. She also enjoyed the simple pleasure of reading by the fire. Georgette Hayer was a particular favorite author of hers.

She cherished her family. Not just her immediate family, but of all her nieces, nephews, friends, and any stray additions dragged home by the children.

Some of her favorite day-to-day activities included shopping at Trader Joe's and Tuesday Morning. She would find luscious and beautiful things to share with others. She listened to opera on Sunday afternoons; crocheting, knitting and sewing, creating and tasting various morsels of food, and wearing big hats. In the evenings, she and DD often treated themselves to a drop of scotch.

On more special occasions, travel often dominated her choice of recreation. She loved her trips to Canada to enjoy Shakespeare’s plays at the Stratford Festival, camping, and taking cruises with loved ones.

Christmas was her favorite time of year. The family would gather around a traditional (large) Swedish smorgasbord and have a little glög.

Sigrid and Don opened and operated PC Doctors. They were known for fixing and setting up computer systems and networks for both individuals and businesses alike. While computers were her joint venture, her lifelong passion was, of course, teaching. Sigi taught high school students in the Indianapolis Public School system, Walker Career Center, and as a substitute teacher at Warren Central for over 50 years. She also spent countless hours tutoring her kids, grandkids, kids of boyfriends, and even perfect strangers. She was an advocate for teachers, representing them in union negotiations, advising them on contract violations, and recruiting members in under-represented schools.

She was a woman who was not shy of speaking her mind. Even though dementia robbed her of her voice, we knew she loved us, loved her life, and loved the cake that Kati brought her nearly every week.

She will be missed, mourned and loved by all of us who knew and cared for her. Walk on into that good light dear Sigi, and tell DD we said hi.

A memorial service for Sigrid will be held Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Crown Hill Gothic Chapel, 700 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208. An inurnment will occur Monday, January 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM at Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208.

Sigrid will be laid to rest in Crown Hill Cemetery, 700 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46208.