Detroit -- Elwin Vigneron, the father of Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 5. He was 92 years of age. He also is survived by his wife, Bernadine, his daughter, Patricia, and his sons John, Ronald, Mark and Gary.
Mr. Vigneron had lived in the Fair Haven area of Ira Township, where he had been raised and later inherited his parents’ home. He and Mrs. Vigneron raised their six children in the house, which has been in the family since the mid-1800s. Mr. Vigneron was a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ira Township.
"My father was a plain Christian man, who loved his family and found his greatest satisfaction in doing his duty," Archbishop Vigneron said after his father's passing. "His being a Catholic was an unquestioned part of his very being, and he taught that to us, mostly by his example."
Archbishop Vigneron has thanked his parents over the years for their support for his priestly vocation. Upon his installation as archbishop of Detroit in 2009, he said, “They always made it very clear to me that they would support me in whatever I wanted to do in my life. They made it a point to never put pressure on me.” Mr. and Mrs. Vigneron were in the front pews at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit as their son was installed as the archbishop.
Upon his son being named the archbishop, Mr. Vigneron spoke about their family priorities while Archbishop Vigneron was growing up. “Religion for one thing, and being a family – (those) are what’s most important,” he said.
His other children saw his life as an example, as well. His youngest son, Gary, said his father had a tremendous work ethic and a great love for life and for others.
“More than anything he was a very hard working man,” said Gary. “He lost his dad really early in life. He loved working outside. He loved taking care of his old farm, mowing the grass. He was a very good friend to a lot of people.”
Gary Vigneron, who with his wife Kimberly has two teenage sons, added that his father was “passionate about his grandchildren.”
Mr. Vigneron had been retired since the early 1980s from a career in construction. He worked as an operating engineer with heavy equipment for Local 324, working often for the Kensington Corporation. He also had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Mr. Vigneron’s ancestry reaches back five generations to French-speaking Canada. His father, Henry, was a sailor, and died during Mr. Vigneron’s childhood. His mother, Eva, raised him along with his brother, Norman, who died in the 1950s.
Aside from enjoying time with his family, Mr. Vigneron enjoyed baseball. He played when he was younger, and was an avid Detroit Tigers fan in his later years. He also enjoyed watching freighters on the St. Clair River.
Visitation will be at Gendernalik Funeral Home, 35259 Twenty Three Mile Road, New Baltimore. Visitation will be from 6 until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6, with a 7 p.m. Scripture service; and from 2 until 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, with a 7 p.m. Rosary. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Conception Parish or Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
On Friday, June 8, the body will lie in repose at Immaculate Conception Church from 10:30 until the 11:30 a.m. funeral Mass. Immaculate Conception is located at 9792 Dixie Highway in Ira Township.
