Victoria Maria Riggott

Victoria Maria Riggott, aged 71, beloved Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Great Aunt and friend to many, passed away on June 4, 2025. She was born to the late Diego Sanchez-Vega and Victoria Caballero-Vargas in Santiago de Chile on May 5, 1954 and attended Liceo de Ninas No. 5. After completing school, Victoria came to the United States on September 5, 1973 and settled down in Miami, Florida.

Victoria was a hard-working and intelligent woman that supported her family all while attending Miami-Dade College and Florida International University where she studied Finance and Business Administration. She began her professional career with Eastern Airlines and later spent 28 years with American Airlines before deciding to retire at age 65. Victoria loved her work, inspired and guided countless people throughout her career, but most of all she cherished the friendships that she made during that time. Victoria was a beach lover, an avid tennis player, pickleball enthusiast, and enjoyed spending time in the kitchen baking and cooking her varied specialties. After retirement, she served as the president of her community’s association and was a dedicated poll worker for her local voting precinct. Victoria enjoyed dancing with her late husband, loved to travel, and was a big part of organizing family events. Victoria was always determined, tenacious, generous, and served as the matriarch for the family.

Victoria was the heart of our family. She raised her son, Rashid Istambouli, in a happy and loving home, and taught him to be an independent, thoughtful, and kind adult. Victoria was married for 19 years to her soulmate, Kenneth Riggott, who preceded her in death. As a grandmother, she was known as “Grandma Vickie” to Kenny, Kyle, Cheyenne, Christopher, Nicholas, Rachel, Dylan, Harrison, Hannah, Kursten, Katelyn. She was known as “Nana” to Zachary, Aria, and Vienne. As an aunt and great-aunt, she was known as “Tia Maruja” to her nephews and nieces Diego, Alex, Filipo, Tony, Marcela, Angie, Alan, Pamela, Daniel, Nathan, Deborah, Tamara, and her grand-nephews and nieces Izabel, Mackenzie, Ariana, CJ, Alexia, Lorenzo, Lynn, Liv, Emma, Franco, Amelia and Mariah. She was the lively grandmother and great-aunt who always arrived with homemade dishes, freshly baked breads and cakes, gifted them clothes, took them on adventures around town, and had the beloved two-story house where everyone loved climbing and sliding down the stairs. She delighted in spoiling them at every possible chance and for any occasion.

Victoria was known for her generosity and kind heart. She was the heart and soul of the family, and she will be dearly missed by all. She was preceded in death by her father Diego Sanchez-Vega in 2000, husband Kenneth in 2010, half-brother Favio Sanchez in 2024, nephew Alan Sanchez in 2020, and step-son Kurt Riggott in 2024. She is survived by her mother Victoria Caballero, her son Rashid Istambouli and daughter in-law Arianne Oliva-Istambouli, her step-daughter Karen Grim, her step-sons Kenny Riggott, Keith Riggott, and Kevin Riggott, her brothers Ricardo Sanchez and Diego Sanchez, her sister Pilar Sanchez, sisters in-law Regina Sanchez and Alejandra M. Sanchez, along with her 14 grandchildren, 11 nephews and nieces, and 12 grand-nephews and nieces.

The memorial service will be held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens. Her interment into the South Florida National Cemetery, with her husband Kenneth N. Riggott, will be at a later date with the immediate family.