Annie Novella House Vigil

Annie Novella House Vigil, 93, of St. Augustine, Florida died suddenly on March 25 at Emory University Hospital. Annie was born March 5, 1918 in Martin, Tennessee and was one of nine children of Ernest Lynuel and Bertha Leora Jackson House. She contracted polio as a young child and was not strong enough to be part of the family's sharecropping although she was responsible for cooking for her 8 siblings from a young age. A letter she wrote to President Franklin Roosevelt lead to a college scholarship at Murray State University where she studied chemistry and dietetics. She taught high school for one year in Kentucky before moving to Detroit, Michigan where she worked as a metals analyst in a munitions factory during WWII. While working at the munitions factory she met her future husband, Jose Salvador Vigil. After WWII, Annie returned to school to complete a degree in dietetics at Wayne State University and went to work for the City of Detroit as a hospital dietitian. Annie and Salvador married on October 8, 1955 and lived in Detroit until 1969 when they moved to Tennessee to be nearer her aging parents. In addition to raising their biological children, Vince and Janet, they raised their niece, Roma House Berry. Annie and her husband, Salvador, chose St. Augustine for their second retirement. They enjoyed and shared their beachfront home together from 1990 until Salvador's death in 2002. Even during those years, Annie continued to be active and volunteered for the St. Augustine Council on Aging in their second hand store and as a treasurer for bingo. Annie and Sal enjoyed sharing their beachfront home with family and friends. Some of their favorite times involved having their children and grandchildren visit. In 2009, she was thrilled when her granddaughter, Lauren, chose St. Augustine for the location of her marriage to Evan Orenstein. Annie is survived by her son Jose Vincent Vigil, MD and daughter in law Mary Elise Vigil of Atlanta, daughter Janet Leora Stone and son in law Randy Stone of Decatur, GA, grandchildren Lauren Orenstein, David Vigil, Ashley Stone and Patrick Stone, brother Russell House of Livonia, Michigan, sister Estelle Bowden of Garden City, Michigan, brother Fred House of Martin, Tennessee and niece Roma Berry of Dundee, Michigan. She is also survived by more than fifty additional nephews and nieces. Annie was predeceased by her husband, Jose Salvador Vigil, son, Albert Vigil, siblings Roy Almus House, John Benjamin House, Charlie House, Martin Lee House, Alberta House Melvin Taylor and Raymond Verlon House. A memorial service will be held at Briarcliff United Methodist on Saturday, April 2 at 11 o'clock. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Johns County Council on Aging or the Oak Hill Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund , 901 King Road, Martin TN 38237.

Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033