Clarence Soileau

Opelousas A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 15, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. in the St. Landry Catholic Church, followed by interment in the Bellevue Memorial Park. The Very Reverend Monsignor Robert Romero will be the celebrant.
Clarence Soileau, popular restaurateur, died on January 11, 2010 at the age of 98. Clarence was born on September 29, 1911 in Grand Prairie, La. to Elisca Fontenot Soileau and Rosamond Soileau, Jr. He was the 4th born in the family of 11 children.
Clarence graduated from Grand Prairie High in 1929 and was an active member of the boys varsity basketball team through his high school years.
In 1936, Clarence married Mabel Veillon and they had 4 children. Clarence and Mabel made Opelousas their home for the 73 years of their marriage. Mabel preceded Clarence in death on August 10, 2009.

In 1937, Clarence Soileau opened his first restaurant in Opelousas serving mainly barbeque chicken dinners half of a chicken with trimmings for 35 cents. Even then, the popular barbeque stand was known as Soileaus Dinner Club.
In 1942, the restaurant temporarily closed due to the war. The Soileaus moved to New Orleans where Clarence was stationed in the ship yard. The restaurant reopened in 1946 at which time Clarence took on a partner, his brotherinlaw, Clifton Veillon, Sr. The restaurant was rebuilt to serve a larger capacity and the menu also expanded to include seafood, steaks, and other specialties.

In 1981, Clarence retired but remained active in his restaurant up until the past couple of years when he became physically unable to visit the establishment on a daily basis. His son, Scott and his daughterinlaw, Beth, have been operating the wellknown family restaurant.

Clarence was a life long member of the Opelousas Elks Lodge 1048 and an active member of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. In 2001, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Acadiana Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. They acknowledged him for his many years of hard work and his influence on future restaurant establishments across the state.

Clarence is preceded in death by his loving wife and long time companion of 73 years, Mabel Veillon Soileau and his business partner of 55 years, Clifton J. Veillon, Sr.
Clarence is survived by all of his children JoAnn Landry and her husband, Willie, of Metairie, La. Judy Fontenot and her husband, Francis, of Lafayette Christine Soileau of Lafayette and Scott Soileau and his wife, Beth, of Opelousas. He is also survived by his 7 grandchildren and 8 greatgrandchildren.

He is also survived by two of his siblings his youngest sister, Neva Marks of Grand Coteau and his brother, George Allen Soileau of Opelousas.

Clarence will always be remembered for his uncanny wit and his ability to gather people in a circle to hear one of his stories. Those same people will probably be the ones to tell you he also made the best squirrel sauce picante they have ever eaten.
A special thank you to all his sitters who cared for him night and day you can bet Mr. C will be up there telling a story about you too. Also a special thanks to the staff of Amedisys Homecare, Louisiana Hospice and Dr. Richard Tate for the wonderful care he has received.

Visitation in the LaFondArdoin Funeral Home will begin on Thursday, January 14, 2010, from 2:00 9:00 p.m and will reopen on Friday at 8:00 a.m. A rosary service will be held at 6:00 p.m., followed by an Elks service at 6:30 p.m.

LaFondArdoin Funeral Home of Opelousas has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. 3379422638

Visitation

Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home
2845 S. Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Thursday, January 14, 2010
2:00 9:00 p.m.

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

St. Landry Catholic Church
1020 North Main
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, January 15, 2010
2:30 p.m.

Cemetery

Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery
4833 Hwy. 182 South
Opelousas, LA  70570