Mary Hazel Stelly Riley

Opelousas- A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Hazel Stelly Riley will be held at St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas on Saturday, May, 27, 2023 at 11 00 A.M. The Rite of Committal will follow in Bellevue Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Mrs. Riley, 88, a native of Leonville, LA and longtime resident of Opelousas, LA, passed away at her home, surrounded by her loving family, after a lengthy illness. She will be remembered for her gentle nature, selflessness, altruism, compassion, strong Catholic faith, and her love and devotion to family. She was a petite woman, but what she lacked in stature, she made up for in character.

She is survived by one brother, Curtis Stelly, of Fordoche, LA; one son, Carl Riley, and wife, Virginia, of Lafayette, LA; five daughters: Debby Piatt, of Lafayette, LA; Janet Richard, and husband, Ronnie, of Opelousas; Leslie Sylvester, and husband, Berchman Sylvester II, of The Woodlands, TX; Charlotte Descant, of Opelousas; and Myra LaSavia, and husband, Jacob, of Baton Rouge, LA.; 14 grandchildren: Maggie Rose Piatt; Stephanie Riley Barrios; Jennifer Riley Nida; Andrew Riley; Renee, Jonathan, Ryan, and Ross Richard; English Sylvester Miller; Berchman Sylvester III; Michael Descant II; Jade Descant Veals; and Annalise and Joseph Riley LaSavia; 19 great[1]grandchildren: Scarlett Barrios; Reilly and Eli Nida; Wesley and Avery Wyble; Amelia Pierce; Connor, Jude, and Bennet Richard; Ella and Evie Richard; Zachary, Adelyn, and Lincoln Miller; Berchman IV and Jackson Sylvester; Sabrina Descant; Mia and Samuel Veals; and 1 great-great granddaughter, Emory Wyble.

Born Mary Hazel Stelly to Joseph Francois Stelly, Jr. and Marie Celanie Lalonde, in Leonville, LA on November 24, 1934, she was the 5 th of 11 children. Growing up on the farm, she often assisted her father and siblings in picking cotton after school and remembered fondly, when her father asked her to go inside and begin a roux for gumbo, while her mother tended to younger siblings, giving young Hazel oral directions. After taking the skillet to him, she said she beamed with pride when her first roux met his approval, taking an interest in cooking. She also taught herself to sew, skills she would later depend on as wife and mother of six, five being girls. Hazel, as she was called by her family, attended Leonville Elementary, and then Leonville High School, where she was introduced to Joe, the oldest of the three Riley brothers, who had relocated back to Leonville from Orange, TX. After hearing a song being dedicated to her and “Joe Riley” at a dance, she accepted his invitation to sit, have a soda, and talk. Joe became her 1 and only love. They were married in 1951 after Joe returned from combat in Korea, and called Augusta, GA, home, until Joe’s assignment with the US Army was completed. They returned to LA, making Opelousas their forever home and started their family of six children. As the children grew, Mrs. Riley decided to join her husband in their new adventure of becoming the owner and operator of Dairy Queen and The Queen’s Little Chef, became the bookkeeper, and assisted during rush hours, where she, together with Joe, delighted in serving their many customers, “happiness” in the forms of burgers and ice cream. Together, they retired after 32 years.

Mrs. Riley’s greatest love and adventure, however, was her family. She and Joe were extraordinary role models for teaching their children what marriage and family truly are, bringing them up in their strong Catholic faith, often kneeling with the six children around their bed at night, leading the Holy Rosary. They instilled in them, a strong conviction, always doing what is right and good! From using the skills of cooking and sewing that she learned as a child, Hazel never missed a day without cooking a hot meal for lunch and dinner, while looking after her little ones. Every afternoon, after attending to the older kids with homework, she could be found sitting at her sewing machine, making all five girls’ clothing, fashioned to perfection. This included their dance costumes and First Holy Communion dresses, but drew the line at wedding dresses. She also made Barbie doll clothes, which could have put Mattel to shame. From attending her children’s school events and extracurricular activities, to helping care for grandkids and attending their events, Mrs. Riley gave her whole heart!

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 62 years, Joseph Stephen Riley; four brothers: Frank Lee Stelly and his infant twin, George Lee Stelly; Ervin Stelly; infant, Lee Roy Stelly; five sisters: Thelma Zerangue, Essie Lanclos, Lucy Fitzgerald, Cheryl Benoit, and infant sister, Mary Stelly. She was also preceded in death by her special daughter-in- law, Linda Joubert Riley.

Vocalists will be granddaughter, English Sylvester Miller, accompanied by self on piano; granddaughter, Annalise LaSavia; and great-granddaughter, Adelyn Miller. They will be accompanied by Scott Miller, on guitar.

Pall Bearers will be her seven beloved grandsons.

Visitation will be observed at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, beginning Friday, May 26, 2023 from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. with the Holy Rosary led by Deacon Sammy Diesi at 6:30 P.M. They will reopen Saturday at 8:00 A.M. until time of service.

The Riley Family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to a very special caregiver, Cina Fusiler, who became like family; all with Hospice of Acadiana, who cared for Mrs. Riley with the same love and care that she would have given them, especially Kim, who had a special way of aiding Mrs. Riley; nurse practitioner, Brandi; Social worker, Tanya; and Food with Love.

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