Jennifer Elise Vigil

Our precious jewel, Jennifer Elise Vigil, was born to us on February 11, 1981. From conception, she was a pleasure and after she was born, she was our little sleeper/eater and always arose in the morning with the sweetest smile on her little face. She was born just 15 months after her brother, Joey, and the two quickly became two little peas in a pod. They were inseparable and people often mistook them for twins. When they were both toddlers and Joey would take away her toys, she would wait until he fell asleep, as he often did, in his tracks on the floor, and sit on his back and use him as a drum set. During high school years, the two remained close and would often sing together and do comedic rifts about family members that would cause you to laugh so hard, you’d fall out of your chair.

Even though she was quiet and reserved as a young one, she was fearless and always willing to try anything. When she was in grammar school, and needed to sell stuff to raise money for school, she would not hesitate to venture out to the neighbors and would always win a great prize for an outstanding number of sales.

Jenny was born an amazing athlete. She began with skiing when she was just 5 or 6 in her cute little pink snowsuit unafraid to traverse the black diamonds in her perfectly shaped “pies”, then swimming (taking first place during her first race at the YMCA when we lived in Connecticut) , then soccer, followed by Olympic Level Sprint Kayaking, then competitive snowboarding (taking 2nd place in the Collegiate Nationals one year) and lastly, Bikram Yoga. If you watched her do any of these, you’d think she was a pro at each.

She was so very musically gifted like her dad and had an awesome propensity for instruments that began with piano, then quickly picked up guitar, harmonica and even drums. And she had the greatest, soulful voice – one that we will miss hearing so very much.

Jenny loved art and was very creative and used just about any medium – even cake decorating. She painted just about every wall in her little house in South Lake Tahoe and invited her artistic friends to collaborate with her in the murals on them. Many of these remain. You’ll have to come to Tahoe to see them one day. She also created stunning, what she called “Orgonite” pieces, filled with hand-chosen treasures that would bless each and every recipient. She would meticulously handwrite beautiful documents describing what was included in each. These in and of themselves were priceless works of art.

Jen was passionate about everything she felt was important: her family and friends, health, and of course Kangen water, social awareness and humanitarian efforts. She was not one to shy away from anything she felt was important despite potential repercussions and judgments.

She also especially loved dogs and often would ask, “Do you know what dog spelled backwards is?” When she was about 11 years old, we went to a shelter and she picked out Gizmo, the cute little stinky breathed dog in the picture. She left Gizmo with us while she was away at college but after she received her Bachelor’s Degree from Sierra Nevada College in Lake Tahoe, we made sure to quickly get him back to her and she took him everywhere with her until he transitioned to heaven himself at the ripe old age of close to 20 years old. She had a few other dogs, but he, and Shikha (her Deer Chihuahua) were her favorites.

Sadly, the past few years of Jenny’s life were wrought with challenges, both physical and emotional. This caused her and those closest to her great pain as there was little that we could do to help her. Despite this however, she strived to overcome the best she could and would not stay down for long remaining physically active, attending church and any and all types of musical, art and political events, and traveling long distances by bike or on foot to connect with family and friends she loved. She was living with her beloved aunt and uncle in San Diego for several months prior to her heavenly transition on February 1, 2017 while she was on a bike ride.

Dearest Jenny,

Oh how loved you will always be. We all miss you so very much. No one could ever take the place of you. You were so incredibly unique, beautiful and special. Our hearts will hold your place and our arms will long to hold you all of our days. We know that heaven is all the more glorious because you are there spreading your joy, your sense of adventure, your creativity and your brilliant heart that loved all whom you met. You left the world a better place. Well done our darling girl.

Sing, Dance and Soar our precious Angel until we meet again.

We love you to the sky and beyond forever and always.