Virginia Pauline Bigham

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Virginia Pauline Bigham, age 82, of Pinckneyville, Ill., passed away on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at 3:15 p.m. in Sparta Community Hospital, Sparta, Ill.

Virginia was born on Aug. 21, 1928 in Pinckneyville, Ill., a daughter to Frank P. and Anna (Reiniger) Schilling. On Jan. 10, 1948, she married Howard D. Bigham in St. Bruno Church, Pinckneyville, Ill. and he preceded her in death on Dec. 11, 1993. Virginia was a member of St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, Ill., where she enjoyed singing in the church choir. She worked at the Pinckneyville Garment Factory, and later at Bridal Originals in Du Quoin, Ill. where she retired. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters and was the 1946 Pinckneyville Mardi Gras Queen. She enjoyed taking care of her family and will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Virginia is survived by one son, Larry (Lesslie) Bigham of Paducah, Ky.; two daughters, Diane (Douglas) Zacheis and Janet (Dean) Wisely both of Oakdale, Ill.; one sister, Theresa Burns of Carbondale, Ill.; grandchildren, Alexa and Allison Zacheis, Dylan, Clark, Brandon, Aden and Brooke Wisely and Daniel Bigham; two step grandchildren, Jessie and Julie Kidd; one step great granddaughter, Jaelynn Gorham and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard Bigham; one son, Danny Bigham; two sisters, Margaret and Marie Ann Schilling; three brothers, Francis, Louis C. and Norbert Schilling.

Funeral services were held at St. Bruno Catholic Church, Pinckneyville, Ill. on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. with Father Brian Barker officiating. Interment was in St. Bruno Catholic Cemetery, Pinckneyville, Ill.

Friends called at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, Ill., on Tuesday, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. The rosary was recited at 9:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to St. Bruno Church Choir, St. Bruno Catholic School, or Masses.

For more information or to sign an online guest register please visit, www.pyattfuneralhome.com.