Christina Antonia Frederick LaVigne, died at the age of 97, on August 30, 2022, in assisted living. She was born June 19, 1925, in the CNR station house near Anola, Manitoba, Canada. Her parents were Anne Koltelo, a homemaker, and Constantine Gustantine Frederick, a CNR Station Master. Chris and her 3 brothers– George, Ray, and Bobwere raised in Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada. Ukrainian and English were spoken at home. Chris completed eight grades in St. Mary’s Catholic school and graduated from Fort Frances high school. She was a strong student. Outside of classes she loved participating in mixed dance troupes. Her parents enrolled her in Ukrainian dancing in primary school, which led to an interest in Scottish sword dancing. She performed at Robert Burns banquets in Rainy River and Emo. She joined Alice Jones’s tap dance classes and performed in many concerts at city hall in Fort Frances.
After high school, Chris worked for 2 years in a neighborhood store and 4 ⁄ 2 years as a sales clerk at Stedman’s department store, before meeting “the love of my life,” Bert LaVigne. (This and following quotes come from handwritten remembrances Chris made in 2014.) They were married September 27, 1947, and she left the Fort for the Falls. Two years later Chris became a naturalized American citizen. She wrote that it was “my duty and privilege” to vote in every local and federal election.
Together, Chris and Bert built their home on 10th Street, where they raised their five children: Pamela, Richard, Theresa, Peter, and Marie. Bert worked 44 years as a papermaker for Mando, later Boise Cascade. Through shift work and strikes at the mill, Chris managed the household. She was a dedicated, skilled homemaker. Just as she had learned from her mother, raising a family alongside railroad tracks, Chris maintained high standards for a clean, well-kept home, She cooked and baked. She raised and canned vegetables from her garden, plus lugs of grocery store fruit and wild-picked blueberries. She was quick to deliver a hotdish and bars in times of need. She froze walleye (fillets and cheeks), venison, and game birds like partridge. She sewed clothes and knew how to smock, crochet, embroider, and knit. She leaves behind many a mitten, afghans, beautifully embroidered pillowcases, and other lovingly handcrafted gifts.
Chris raised her family on traditional Ukrainian specialties: kielbasa, holupchi (cabbage rolls), pierogies, caraway rye and paska bread, and pickled beets and dill pickles. She was also an outstanding cook of the French-Canadian specialties Bert remembered, including tourtiere (ground pork meat pies), saucissons (pork sausage with the 4 sweet spices known as les quatre épices), and soupe aux pois (pea soup, though she had to use green peas because the yellow peas used in Quebec were not available in the Falls.)
When her children were growing up, Chris attended their school events and piano recitals, and traveled out of town for hockey games, state swimming and diving competitions, and the state spelling bee.
Dancing was a great pleasure throughout Chris’s life. She and Bert enjoyed square dancing and went on outings down the Range with Tom and Helen Kellner and Ann and Bill Reff.
In later years, Chris and Bert enjoyed getting together to play cards with old friends. Chris wrote of “wonderful friendships” with the Wayne Makis, Morris Krowchuks, Jim Tierneys, and especially the Forsythe family-Freeman and Rose, Roy and Helen. She also fondly mentions Renee and Leonard Peterson and Erling and Iva Olson and all their families. At the time of her death, Chris had outlived them all except for Freeman Forsythe, an honorary pall bearer at her funeral.
Chris was a devout lifelong Catholic and a woman of a deep, personal faith. She was an active member and financial supporter of St. Thomas Aquinas parish, its church and school. She walked to Mass every day for many years. She took a regular shift on the perpetual adoration calendar. She prayed the rosary daily, and held a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Chris put her faith into practice through extensive volunteer activities in women’s service groups in the parish. In Circle 9, she helped set up, serve, and clean up for church events such as Bingo games, breakfasts, harvest dinners, weddings, and funerals. In Tabernacle Society, she dusted, polished pews, washed floors, and decorated the church year-round, along with washing and ironing priestly vestments. As a member of Catholic Daughters of America, she was responsible for organizing monthly birthday parties for residents of the Falls Nursing Home. She selected cards, bought the angel food cakes, and led the singing for the celebrants. Also at the nursing home, Chis wrote that she “truly enjoyed” working 26 years in the beauty shop there, where she made many friendships Chris is preceded in death by these people: Her parents, Anne (Koltelo) Frederick and Constantine Gustantine Frederick. Her brothers, George and Ray Frederick. Her husband, Bertrand Joseph LaVigne. After 65 years and 2 months together, Bert died in 2012.
She is survived by their 5 children, 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. Chris’s children are as follows: Pamela LaVigne (Matt Tirrell) of Chicago, IL Richard (Sandy) LaVigne of International Falls Theresa (Randy) Olson of Scottsbluff, NE Peter LaVigne of Gering, NE Marie LaVigne of Tucson, AZ Chris’s grandchildren from Richard LaVigne are Jacques LaVigne and Cedulie Lloyd. Chris’ great grandchildren from Jacques are Chelsea, Bailea, and Cooper LaVigne; and from Cédulie are Pyke and Niya Lloyd. Chris’ great-great grandchildren from Chelsea are Cashious and Kaious Skramstad and Leighton Rodriguez. Chris’ grandchildren from Theresa Olson are Emily and Gunnar Olson. Chris’ great grandchildren from Gunnar are Eisa and Franka Olson. Chris’ grandchildren from Peter Lavigne are Molly, Matthew, and Wyatt. Chris’ great grandchildren from Molly are Averie and Whitney French; from Matthew are Harper and Beckett LaVigne; and from Wyatt are Emmitt and Everlie LaVigne.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, September 9, 2022 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in International Falls, MN with Rev. Thomas Galarneault celebrating. A visitation will be held from 5:00 6:30 PM with a Rosary at 6:30 PM on Thursday, September 8th at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Interment will be in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cemetery in International Falls, MN.
