Ana Lea Vincent

1932 - 2025

Ana Lea Vincent, a spirited adventurer, devoted mother and grandmother, gifted musician, and beloved friend, passed away peacefully in her home in Colfax, California, on July 30, 2025. She was 92. Born in Fresno, California, on November 9, 1932, to Robert Edward Lee Green and Marie Green, Ana Lea was raised during the Great Depression-a time that instilled in her a lifelong appreciation for thrift, resourcefulness, and always having more than enough canned goods on hand. She grew up with her siblings Iona Rose, Kenneth Green, and Betty Lugena, all of whom preceded her in death.
Ana Lea attended high school in Vacaville, later settling in Sacramento where she met the love of her life, Edward Vincent. After a whirlwind two-week courtship, the two were married on December 9, 1955, beginning a marriage built on shared adventure, resilience, and love. Throughout her life, Ana Lea called many places home: Davis,CA; Fairbanks, AK; Sitka, AK and ultimately Colfax, CA; where she lived out her later years surrounded by music, nature, and family. A draftsman by trade, Ana Lea held positions at UC Davis, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and Omni -Means in Roseville. But her true passion was music. A talented pianist with a joyful, infectious energy, she entertained in restaurants in Alaska and California. After retiring, she continued to share her love of music; teaching piano, accompanying the Colfax High School Choir, and playing twice weekly at Bootleggers restaurant in Auburn, CA.
Ana Lea was a woman of vibrant warmth and adventurous spirit. Whether navigating her and Ed's 28-foot boat up the Inside Passage from Bellingham, WA to Sitka, AK (having earned her certification through Coast Guard courses) or laughing her unforgettable laugh (a sound her children lovingly called a "cackle"), she embodied joy and courage in equal measure. Her sense of humor was mischievous, her optimism unwavering. She was deeply proud of her family, her candy-making prowess, and her musical gifts. She found beauty in everyday life, and always chose to look on the brighter side. In her 92 years, she bore witness to staggering change, from homes where food was kept cold by iceboxes to a world powered by WiFi and AI and she never stopped being curious. While she didn't keep up with the latest technology, she was always adept at maneuvering her favorite casino game: Video Poker.
Ana Lea is survived by her children: Colleen Peralta (Nelson), Sandra Walsh (Dan), Ted Vincent (Christine), and Stacie Younggren (Mark); her grandchildren: Kara Rochelle Arriaga, James Peralta, Kieran Burton, Dev Burton, Noah Vincent (Emma), Avery Vincent, and Christian Vincent; her great-grandchildren: Sydney Patch, Parker Arriaga, and Logan Vincent; and furbabies Jasmine, Pedro, and Harley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward, her parents, siblings, grandchildren Phillip Patch & Erika Patch, and great-grandson Sybastyan Patch.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Colfax Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Colfax High School Chamber Choir Program or the Colfax Baptist Church Music Program-both organizations close to Ana Lea's heart.