Sr. Mary Dorothy LaVigne

Sister Mary Dorothy LaVigne, RSM, 77, died on Monday, August 9, 2010 at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, after a brief illness. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 13, 2010, at the Sacred Heart Convent Chapel in Cedar Rapids, by Rev. David Ambrosy. Burial will be at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12 at Sacred Heart Chapel with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Sister Mary Dorothy LaVigne was born June 26, 1933, to George and Edna Rigleter LaVigne in Saxon, Wisconsin As a child her family moved to Kalispell, Montana, where she attended St. Matthew's School and Troy High School in Troy, Mont. Sister Dorothy entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on August 1, 1953, and made her final profession of vows on February 2, 1959. She received a bachelor's degree from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids majoring in History with minors in Home Economics and Education. In ministry, Sister Dorothy taught second grade at Sacred Heart, Waterloo; St. Nicholas, Evansdale; Sacred Heart, Oelwein and St. Matthew's in Cedar Rapids. In 1985, she left the classroom to assist with duties on the Sacred Heart Convent and Mount Mercy College campus as a teacher's aide, phone operator and food service worker. In retirement, Sister Dorothy remained active as a volunteer contributing over 3,000 hours of service to Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. She enjoyed her time in the kitchen baking bread, making desserts, canning vegetables and preparing meals to show her hospitality to others. During the holidays she would put together food baskets for those in need in the community. Sister Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, John, Robert and Donald and sisters, Dorothy Mae Wertz, Betty Lou Huggins and Mary Ellen Delange. She is survived by a sister, Genevieve Holen; brother-in-law, Fred Huggins; aunt, Alice LaVigne; many nieces and nephews and the Sisters of Mercy. Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy at 1125 Prairie Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402.