In memory of Mario Vigil

Hi, my name is Priscilla Vigil-Cater, one of five grandchildren of Mario Vigil. On August 20 2023, my grandfather was taken to the hospital and from there we discovered he had pneumonia and 2 blood clots in his lungs. The doctors were unable to perform any procedures to remove the clots or insert a feeding tube because his body was deemed too weak to undergo surgery. For 7 days my grandfather tried to fight off the sickness that took his body but on August 27 he took his final breaths in our home. My family is asking for any help to cover the cost of his funeral and hospital bills. We want to give my grandfather the send off he deserves after suffering for so long in a mind that became a prison in the end.

In April of 2016, my grandfather suffered from a spontaneous brain aneurysm that landed him in the hospital. From there we discovered that it was only the beginning in what would be a 7 year long battle with dementia. At first he would run away for hours at a time, and we had to move him into our home for his safety. As the years went by he became less and less of himself and in turn he was more and more dependent on us. We became his full time caretakers, never leaving him to struggle alone. My grandmother was always making sure he still ate the foods he used to enjoy, and was always comfortable. We grieved the man he used to be and welcomed the new person he became as he slowly forgot us all. Even in his last days he was able to make us all smile because what was the last to leave him was his strong will to survive. He was the first person in his hometown to pursue college and he went on to serve in the Mexican military. When he came to the United States, he began a career in the construction industry. He was a member of the Laborers Union 872 for more than 15 years, and many of those years he spent as part of the McCarthy concrete team. He was a family man and was proud of his son and his five grandchildren. He was a fearless man who achieved great things in his life, and he deserves the best even in death. My family appreciates any contributions we may receive ♥️