Virginia (Angelucci) Vignone, 100

Virginia (Angelucci) Vignone, beloved mother, known to those who loved her as Nana, was born April 12, 1923, in Ralphton, Pa., and died peacefully in her sleep on April 14, 2023, two days past her 100^th birthday. She was attended to by her son, Charles; her daughter, Virginia; and grandson, Christian. Virginia was first generation Italian. Her parents and uncles arrived at Ellis Island in 1918.

Virginia, moved from her home in McKees Rocks, Pa., to Chicago in 1947, finally settling in Lansing, Ill., in 1950, where she raised six children and gave a home to many nieces and nephews. An active member of the American Legion and volunteer in the Boy Scouts of America, Virginia welcomed everyone to her home. She had a wicked sense of humor and was dedicated to her family.

Virginia was a child of the Depression, lived through World War II and rationing, was a welder in the Navy shipyards, and part of the development of the “suburbs.” Every weekend during WWII found Virginia, her sisters, and friends at the ballroom, dancing with soldiers to big band music at the CSO. Living through two decades of austerity and struggle formed the core of her spirit, which she passed onto to those whose lives she cared for.

Nana (Virginia) loved opera, big band music, dancing, and her loud boisterous Italian family. The family had numerous Italian traditions brought here from her homeland in Italy, which are carried on by her children and grandchildren. Nana taught all her children to appreciate the joy of dancing and to love music of all kinds. Nana loved the cinema and took her children to every movie that played at the Lans Theatre on Main Street. Nana was a tireless worker who finally retired at the age of 84, though she continued to paint her own home, do handyman chores around the house, often complaining, “Why don’t they make power tools for women?” She had strong words for anyone who quit or gave up on life. 

Every Sunday before Mass, the sauce would be cooking on the stove, Mario Lanza would be bellowing opera, and the smells of good Italian food wafted throughout the house, welcoming the family home after church. Nana was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and faithfully prayed the rosary every day of her life.

Nana enjoyed the company of her grandchildren, sharing her weekends with them, taking them on cross-country vacations, movies, thrifting, before it was the trend, and helping them to build strong relationships in the family. 

Virginia is survived by her children, Louisett (Marybeth), Charles (Helen), Threse, John, Ginny, and Sabena (Don). Nana had 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Murray Vignone; her parents, Joseph and Louisett Angelucci; and her siblings, Joseph, Paul, Edith, Lugo, Mary, Sabena, and Nel. 

Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of Virginia’s life on May 20 at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, Jackson Street, Woodstock. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. with Mass at 11. You are invited to join the family for a luncheon afterward at the home of her daughter, Louisett Ness, 466 W. Jackson St., Woodstock.