Obituary of Sylvia M. Rigotti

June 3, 1935 - February 76, 2025

Sylvia Martha (nee: Martin) Rigotti.  Age 89 of Woodhaven. 

The family of Sylvia Rigotti is saddened to announce her passing on February 7, 2025, at the age of 89.  Sylvia was born on June 3, 1935, in Warren, Michigan to Wanda and Emil Martin.  She is survived by three loving children;  Mark Rigotti, a CPA, married to Sarah Doig living in Taylor;  USAF Col (ret) Marie Rigotti Vaughan, married to Bobby Vaughan living in Burke, Virginia; and Matthew Rigotti, a retired automotive engineer, married to Dr. Patty Kaufman Rigotti living in Grosse Pointe.  Sylvia has 10 grandchildren;  Nicholas, Timothy, Jamie, Joseph, Joshua, Alexa and Amanda Rigotti, Steven, Christina and Robert (Trey) Vaughan.  Sylvia has 5 great grandchildren;  Elizabeth and Madelyn Rigotti, Chase, Sadie and Oakley Vaughan.  Sylvia also has 4 siblings;  Nancy (Richard) Delene, Pat (Ted-deceased) Dye, Ray (Carol) Martin and Arthur (Marcee) Martin.

Sylvia grew up on a vegetable truck farm in Utica, Michigan.  She went to a small one room elementary school then graduated from Utica High School in 1953.  In 1957, Sylvia graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University, East Lansing.  On August 3, 1957, Sylvia married Eugene Adolf Rigotti at St. Lawrence Church in Utica, Michigan.  She worked as an office manager for the Chrysler Corporation on the Project Mercury Redstone Rocket Program from 1957-1958.  Sylvia was a life-long learner who earned a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degrees in Education from Eastern Michigan University in November, 1979 when she was 44 years old.

Sylvia also took quite a few classes to learn new skills as she worked on her many projects.  She learned to do upholstery, woodworking, papier Mache, jewelry making, flower arrangements and sewing, just to mention a few.  Sylvia enjoyed traveling.  Sylvia and Gene visited 55 different countries together.  They were both active in the Tucson, Arizona and Woodhaven Senior Clubs.  Sylvia enjoyed competing in the Senior Olympics in many events, including bocce ball, lawn darts, horseshoes, bridge, euchre and pinochle.  She was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus Women’s Auxiliary Club.  Sylvia was a parishioner of St. Alfred Parish for 40+ years before joining Our Lady of the Woods in Woodhaven in 1998.  

Sylvia and Gene enjoyed camping and shared this love with their family.  They routinely took family camping trips in a pop-up trailer during Christmas holidays at various locations throughout Florida.  These trips built great memories and crazy stories to retell at the late-night campfires.  In 1976, Sylvia and Gene took the family and the pop-up trailer out west for 28 days to explore many of our National Parks.  Camping was great family time.  Once their adult children left home, Sylvia and Gene continued to winter in various locations throughout Florida from 1991 to 1995 before settling into a condo in Tucson, AZ from 1996 to 2018.  As the family grew, Sylvia enjoyed organizing annual camping trips for the entire family including spouses and grandchildren.  

Sylvia loved life and trying new things.  She enjoyed reading, trying ethnic foods, socializing with people and exploring this amazing world.  Mostly, Sylvia loved her family.  She took pride in her 3 children and their families and enjoyed hearing about their many accomplishments and adventures.  Sylvia will be greatly missed.

Sylvia Rigotti’s viewing is on Friday, February 14, 2025 from 5:30 to 6:00 PM for family and 6-8:00 PM for family and friends at Molnar Funeral Homes-Brownstown Chapel, 2370 West Road, Brownstown.  Her funeral is Saturday, February 15, 2025,  9:00 AM at Our Lady of the Woods Church, 21892 Gudith Road, Woodhaven. There is a viewing just prior to mass from 8:30 to 9:00 AM and a luncheon at 11:00 AM at The Sandtrap, 15001 Sibley Road, Riverview.