Irma Wigley

95, of Cocoa, formerly of Largo, passed away February 14, 2017. Born March 21, 1921 to a privileged Puerto Rican family, the third daughter of a well-known merchant, politician and race horse owner whose family originated in Oviedo, Spain. Her mother’s family originated in France. Her mother was a teacher appointed by the U.S. government to teach reading, writing and sewing. Our mother was educated in Puerto Rico and graduated in 1940 from the University of Puerto Rico, Business Administration College. She worked for the Royal Bank of Canada and the Morro Officers Club in San Juan.

Mom and dad met at her sister’s party late 1939 and married November 20, 1941 two week before Pearl Harbor. This event interrupted their normal life. He was sent to Officers Candidate School in Virginia and mom came to Milford, Delaware to be with his parents. It took some courage to leave everything she had known, her family, friends, country, language and profession to follow Dad as a military wife wherever his career took him. I was born in 1943 in Milford, Delaware one week before Dad went to war. He went to Ireland, England and Europe for two years and returned to see me 2 years old. Fred was born in 1946 in Alexandria, Virginia and Dan in 1957 in Natick, Massachusetts.

We moved 10 times in 16 years. In 1949 Dad went one year to Korea while we waited in Oakland, California. Upon his return we moved to Mineral Wells, Texas and again we waited for Dad to return for a six month duty in Eleuthera Island. Fred and I had spent one year and six months with Mom taking us to school seeing to it we would adjust, we went to zoos and parks to pass the time. After we moved to Natick, Massachusetts Mom took a job in the Army HQ Research and Laboratories there while dad was at Northeastern University with the Military Arts and Science Department, doing the same job as at the University of Tennessee while we lived in Alcoa, Tennessee. We spent many weekends in the Smoky Mountains enjoying many picnics there. After Dan was born, we moved to Florida where Dad retired after 20 years in the military, but only 40 years old. Both Mom and Dad continued to work in Florida while we were teens going to High School and College and Dan was also growing up.

Over the years Mom joined several clubs, serving as Secretary to the Retired Officers Wives Club, served in the Pinellas Opera League, was second President of the World Circle Language Club, belonged to the Garden Club of Clearwater and the World Circle International Bridge Club. She loved to play bridge at any moment’s notice. She also belonged to the Largo Lioness Club for many years.

Mom paid attention to the whole family, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, she never missed a birthday or any special occasion. She loved her family and loyal friends. Dad, her sister, all 24 of us and her many friends will miss her very much.

A visitation will be held on Monday, February 20, 2017 at 10 am, with the Funeral Mass to follow at 11am at St. Jerome Catholic Church.