Elaine M. Viegas

Elaine M. Viegas (May 21, 1970 – January 18, 2023)

On January 18, 2023, Elaine M. Viegas courageously passed away lovingly surrounded by her parents and siblings.  Born to Drs. Oscar J. Viegas and Brenda P. Viegas, Elaine, the eldest of four girls, was not only the best sister, but also spent many years caring for her younger siblings.  She was kind, patient, and always willing to lend an ear.  Anyone she encountered knew that she genuinely cared for them.

Elaine survived childhood leukemia as well as several other medical obstacles during her life.  Through them all, including her last battle, her resilience was unparalleled — so much so that her care team asked if she had been an athlete because her heart was so strong, even until her very last breath.

Her life experiences allowed her to befriend anyone she met and also motivated her to establish the independence she strived for in the face of so many medical challenges.  Perhaps one of her greatest loves was to travel to Javea, Spain where she would stay with her Aunt and often visit with her cousins.

Elaine completed her Master’s Degree in Business Administration and spent the majority of her career in the health care sector assisting with various aspects of a patient’s clinical experience.  In her spare time, she enjoyed scrapbooking, crafting, and jewelry making.  Elaine loved her friends and family, including her siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.  She is survived by her loving parents, Oscar and Brenda Viegas, her sisters, Valerie Pai (Raj), Melita Viegas, Jennifer Ehinger (Matt), and her nieces and nephews, Jathan, Anjali, Everett, Sonya, and Miles, whom she cherished as her own children, and her favorite dog-niece, Kona.  She is preceded in death by Bruno and Ida Viegas (grandparents), John and Rose Santamaria (grandparents), Ian Santamaria (uncle), and Celsa Figueirado (aunt).

A memorial mass will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church at 4217 Central Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46205.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who are interested consider donating blood or platelets or make a donation to the American Red Cross or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.