Cheryl J. (Vandervest) Pigeon

Cheryl passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday July 24, 2024, at the Jack and Engrid Meng Hospice residence after battling various cancers for 21 months. She was born on August 10, 1950, the only child of the late Irwin and Jennie (Vaness) Vandervest.

She graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul Grade School (1964), Preble High School (1968) and the University of Wisconsin Green Bay (1972). It was while attending UWGB that she met her future husband, Dick Pigeon, at the Ecumenical Center on campus. They were married at what is now the National Shrine of our Lady of Champion on October 14, 1972.

Dick and Cheryl had two children, Gina and Steven. Cheryl started her career at the Brown County Library in the young adult department. She left that job to raise her children and once they were of an independent age, she returned to school at NWTC and graduated in 1989 with an Associate Degree in Legal Assistant. She then worked for Attorney Joe Hoida for 20 years, retiring to care for her aging mother.

Cheryl was a woman of deep faith with a special devotion to St. Bridget and the Blessed Mother. She felt very strongly about Catholic education working to see that both kids were reared in the faith. She was a gentle soul and focused on family, especially lately her three grandsons. Dick and Cheryl frequently hosted large Christmas gatherings for the entire family (last one with 45 guests) and opened their door county getaway for many memorable gatherings. She enjoyed escaping in the wintertime to their rental in Kissimmee Florida and was a big fan of Disney amassing over 100 park visits. Their favorite travels other than wintering in the south included Alaska, Hawaii, Washington DC, and Boston.

Cheryl was a dedicated reader and belonged to a book club that met monthly. She could easily read a book a week and did so regularly. She also enjoyed making scrapbooks to save and document many favorite family times some of which will be on display at the visitation. When the children were in grade school, she was a big volunteer for their school chairing some major functions including fundraising. She loved doing large puzzles and saved many which now adorn the door county property. But most of all she loved being a mother to her children and grandmother to three grandsons. She will be greatly missed but we know that she will be watching down on her family from above.

Cheryl is survived by her husband Dick; daughter Gina Knuth and her husband Andy and their son Vincent; son Steven and his wife Stacey and their children Henry and Connor. Also surviving are in-laws Ronald and Sonja Pigeon; Judy Otradovec; Todd and Carol Detert; and Mary Jane and Paul Heim. She was preceded in death by her parents Irwin and Jennie; Dick's parents Harry and Gen; and a brother-in-law Marc Otradovec. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and cousins.

A visitation will be held at the Ryan Funeral Home 305 N. Tenth Street, De Pere on Tuesday July 30th from 4:00PM to 7:00PM with a praying of the rosary at 7:00PM. Visitation will continue at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 1305 Lourdes Ave., De Pere on Wednesday morning from 9am until the Mass of Christian burial at 10:30AM with Fr. James Baraniak O.Praem. officiating. Interment will be in Allouez Catholic Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Green Bay or Waukesha Catholic School System.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center at Aurora Bay Care and the amazing team at the Meng Residence for their compassionate care of Cheryl and family.