Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 29, 2010 at a 2:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Francis Regis Catholic Church in Arnaudville for Florence N. Deville, 74, who passed away on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 9:50 p.m. at her residence. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Father Gary Schexnayder will be celebrant of the funeral Mass.
Musical selections will be: Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Just a Closer Walk With Thee and Gentle Woman.
Mrs. Deville, the former Florence Noel, was a native of Arnaudville and a resident of Lafayette since her husbands death in 1999. Previously, Mrs. Deville and her husband raised two children and lived in Opelousas for over forty years.
She was the consummate wife, mother, and homemaker. They just dont make em like that anymore. Florence was an excellent seamstress and cook. Those who knew her could tell you that she could cultivate a vegetable garden and conduct a boucherie as good as anybody. She and her husband, Wilfred, hosted many suppers, card games, and the like during those forty years in Opelousas.
Her devotion as a mother was legendary. She raised an autistic, mentally handicapped son in the 1950s at a time when there were no federal or state programs available to parents. Due to Florence and Wilfreds efforts, their son, Bubba, has enjoyed a happy life he will continue to do so with love and care in the home of his sister, Lois, and her husband, Mike.
Mrs. Deville raised a daughter, as well. She instilled the value of education and responsibility in her. This led to Lois thirty years of service to the State of Louisiana and retirement in 2006.
Florence was a devout Catholic. As an infant, she was baptized by Monsignor Louis Massebiau, a French priest who grew up in the same village as St. Therese, the Little Flower. She graduated high school from St. Johns Academy in Franklin, LA in 1953. Throughout her life, Florence attended various retreats. These included: Journeys of Faith Ministry in Morrilton, AR, the yearly Rosary Congress in Cankton, LA and in 1987, Florence and her family traveled to New Orleans for the historic papal visit of Pope John Paul II. At the time of her death, she was a parishioner at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lafayette, LA.
Survivors include her son, Wilfred Deville, Jr. Bubba, her daughter, Lois LeBlanc and husband, Mike, all of Lafayette three sisters, Beatrice N . Kidder and Mary Ruth Noel, both of Arnaudville, and Odile N. Sasso of Melrose Park, IL two goddaughters, Carol N. Plesh of Foley, AL and Brenda D. Bohangee of Opelousas her special friends, Dot T. Menard of Lafayette and Frances L. Fontenot of Mamou and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred Deville, Sr., her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dominic Noel, Mrs. Noel was the former Adella Meche four brothers, Felix Noel, PFC Pierre Noel, PVT Daniel Noel, Sr., PVT Hubert Noel two sisters, Agnes N. Carrow and Anna Belle N. Laine paternal grandparents, Louis and Marie B. Noel, and maternal grandparents, Arthur and Marie C. Meche and her inlaws, Wilmar and Aledia F. Deville.
Her children would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who gave of themselves to help Florenceespecially Jane TLin Matte Anna Bookie Boutte Cheri L. Chauvin Juanita D. Thibodeaux and Saundra L. Spears.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Laine Dominic Laine Mike Soileau Bradley Menard Bryan and Anthony Stinson.
A rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 28, 2010, in the funeral home. The family requests that visitation hours be observed from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will reopen on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. until time of services.
Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home, old Sunset Highway in Opelousas, 337 9422638 is in charge of all arrangements.
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