July 14, 1929-June 8, 2026
Marguerite Stonesifer of Pearland, Texas, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on June 8, 2026. Only 3 weeks since her beloved, John Stonesifer, husband of 70 years, went to be with our Lord, they are once again reunited in heaven. Marguerite’s love as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother will endure and shape the lives of her family for generations to come.
Marguerite was born to Arthur William Vigneron and Allene Genvieve Bagard in 1929 in Buffalo, New York, as the 6th of 7 children in a family rich with French culture and traditions. Always with an adventurous spirit, she and her older sister left the snow and moved to Miami. Marguerite worked as a secretary while she and her sister enjoyed the warm weather and even vacationed in Cuba. Miami beach is where she crossed paths with John while he was in the Navy and attending the University of Miami. She recently revealed that she approached Dad first as he knew many of the people there, but he did not know her! Marguerite was planning employment abroad with the US State Department when that aspiration was exchanged for an engagement to John who sold his BMW motorcycle to buy her a ring. They married in January of 1956 in Buffalo and honeymooned at Niagara Falls.
And so it began – Marguerite’s life dedicated to her faith, husband and children. After the birth of their oldest son in Miami, John and Marguerite moved to Hampton, Virginia where John helped usher in the establishment of NASA as a part of the Space Task Group. There they welcomed a daughter. After strongly encouraging John to accept a new trailblazing opportunity, they then moved to Houston for the formation of NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center, now the Johnson Space Center.
Marguerite flourished as a devoted homemaker and mother, welcoming another son and daughter in Texas. She also shared her Catholic faith with her children and the community. The family attended mass in Dickinson while the 2 oldest children were enrolled in the church’s school. Desiring to attend a church closer to home in Friendswood, Marguerite collaborated with other parishioners to help establish Mary Queen Catholic Church.
Marguerite and John modeled values of respect, integrity, and compassion while sharing unconditional love. Marguerite was known to sew clothes for her daughters and granddaughter, design Halloween costumes for all the kids, and create beautiful, joyful holiday celebrations-most notably on Christmas Eve. And who can forget all the delicious Christmas cookies she made?! Many of her children and grandchildren acquired her love of reading, commitment to physical fitness, and appreciation for cleanliness and organization. She also enjoyed stimulating her mind with crossword puzzles and daily viewing of Wheel of Fortune. In her later years, you could see her zipping (cautiously) to church and the grocery store in her 1999 Porsche 911. And her sharp wit and dry sense of humor were evident until the end.
After the children were grown, Marguerite was always scheduling the next adventure for her and John. They traveled the world visiting 95 countries. John was amused by her souvenir shopping even in the most remote places. Marguerite lovingly cared for 8 grandchildren and embraced 11 great-grandchildren. She preserved all of the wonderful travel and family memories in beautifully curated photo albums.
Marguerite is survived by her four children and their families: Kurt (Laney) Stonesifer, Karl (Kristian) Stonesifer & Ares, Connor Stonesifer; Marlene (Michael) Grivon, Nicole (David) Ray, Lucas & Andrew, George (Emily) Grivon, Michael, Joanna & Evangelos; Alex (MaryMichael) Grivon, Olympia & John Michael; Greg (Ashley) Stonesifer, Kyle (Samantha) Stonesifer & Reece, Pierce (Anna) Stonesifer & future baby boy; Jill (Brad) White, Harrison Stonesifer (Samantha Armstrong), Maxwell & Remy and Hailey White.
Our family extends its deepest gratitude to Mom and Dad’s devoted caregivers—Melissa, Olga, Mery, Ashley, Stephanie, and Blanca. Your love, compassion, and selfless dedication to our parents were nothing short of heroic. We will always remember the kindness, comfort, and dignity you provided during their most vulnerable times. You were a tremendous blessing to Mom and Dad and a source of comfort to our family.
Friends and family are cordially invited to the Visitation on Monday, June 15, 2026, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr. Friendswood, TX 77546. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 10:30 AM, at Mary Queen Catholic Church, 606 Cedarwood Dr. Friendswood, TX 77546. Interment will follow at 12:30 PM at Forest Park East Cemetery, 21620 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX 77598.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Queen Catholic Church. Maryqueencatholicchurch.org
1 thought on “Marguerite Mary (Vigneron) Stonesifer”
One of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever met. The first time I had the pleasure to meet her felt like I’d known her for years. I pray for peace and comfort during this time of loss.