Gladys Marie Daire Kretzer Darby

Opelousas – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Gladys Kretzer Darby, formerly Gladys Marie Daire, on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in the St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas, La. Father Neil Pettit will Celebrate the Mass. Rite of Committal and Burial will be held at Bellevue Memorial Park in Opelousas, Louisiana. 

Pallbearers will be Jason Tate, Matthew Tate, Joshua Kretzer, Jared Fontenot, Christopher Moreau and Damian Benoit.

Visitation for Gladys will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, in the Skip Montet Memorial Chapel at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home in Opelousas from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. A Rosary will be prayed at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home by Deacon Dwayne Joubert.

Gladys, age 96, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2025, at her residence in Opelousas, Louisiana. She was born on November 28, 1928, in Port Barre, Louisiana, Gladys lived a life rich in faith, family, and loving service to others.

A proud graduate of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Ville Platte, Louisiana. She proudly supported the Korean War Effort as a telephone operator in New Orleans. 

A devout Catholic, Gladys incorporated her strong faith into her daily routine, praying her rosary every day. This spiritual practice reflected her deep commitment to her beliefs and served as an inspiration to her family and friends.

Throughout her retirement, Gladys opened her home and heart to care for generations of children, providing a nurturing environment for those whose parents were at work. Her selflessness and dedication to others will be remembered by all whose lives she touched.

Gladys had a passion for gardening, tending to both flowers and vegetables with great care and love. She found joy in the simple pleasures of life, including her cherished moments watching football, particularly the New Orleans Saints and LSU. Additionally, her enthusiasm for baseball shone through as she supported her favorite team, the Atlanta Braves.

She leaves behind her son, Robert Lee Kretzer, Jr. (Toni) of Ville Platte, Louisiana; her daughters, Peggy Kretzer (Sarah) of Harrisonville, Missouri, and Annette Kretzer Fontenot (Don) of Opelousas, Louisiana; her brother, Delouis Daire, of Ville Platte, Louisiana; as well as nine grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Her legacy of love will continue in the hearts of her family.

Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, Derbes and Omerine Ortego Daire; her husband and father of her children, Robert Lee Kretzer, Sr.; her brothers, Marvin Daire, John Littell "Doc" Daire, Joseph Derbes "JD" Daire, and Kerron John Daire; her sisters, Pauline Rape, Versie Lafleur, and Ethel Daire Darby; and her sister-in-law, Ethel Daire.

As we remember Gladys, we celebrate a life well-lived, one marked by unwavering faith, boundless kindness, and a lasting love for her family. She will be dearly missed but fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com. 

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, (337) 942-2638, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.