Vonola Stears

Funeral services will be held for Vonola S. Stears, age 93, at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, February 7, 2016, in the St. Peter's Catholic Church in Grand Prairie, LA. Deacon Sammy Diesi will officiate the service. Burial will take place at the St. Peter's Catholic Church Mausoleum.

Mrs. Stears, a resident of Grand Prairie, LA, died on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home in Opelousas, LA.

Vonola and her husband Horace owned and operated Stears Grocery for 31 years in Grand Prairie until their retirement. Mrs. Stears loved spending time outdoors where she enjoyed raking leaves, tending to her vegetable garden and picking pecans. Vonola was also fond of playing the card game "Casino". She truly loved spending time with her family and grandchildren, especially on Sunday for family dinners. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her sons, James "Jimmy" Stears and wife, Roxana, of Grand Prairie, LA; Quentin Stears and wife, Sandra, of Grand Prairie, LA; Billy Stears and wife, Sally, of Baton Rouge, LA; her daughter, Sandra Soileau and husband, Carroll, of Grand Prairie, LA; her sisters, Lourella Fontenot of Eunice, LA and Merlyn Guillory of Ville Platte, LA. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Stears; her parents, Lena Vidrine Soileau and Marius Soileau; her daughter, Rita Stears; her brothers, Percy Soileau, Yves Soileau, Melvin Soileau, Rhines Soileau, Calvin Soileau, Marius Soileau, Jr.; her sisters, Celestine Soileau, Evelyn Soileau and one grandchild, Asia Stears.

Vonola's grandsons will act as her pallbearers.

Visitation will be held at the Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas on Saturday, February 6, 2016 from 2:00 until 10:00 p.m. A rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. The funeral home will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday until time of services.

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.

Visitation

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas
2845 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Saturday, February 6, 2016
2:00- 10:00 p.m.

Service

Rosary

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home
2845 S. Union St.
Opelousas, LA  70570
Saturday, February 6, 2016
6:00 p.m.

Funeral Service

St. Peter's Catholic Church
1074 Hwy. 748
Washington, LA  70589
Sunday, February 7, 2016
12:15 p.m.

Cemetery

St. Peter Catholic Church Cemetery
1074 Hwy. 748
Washington / Grand Prairie, LA  70589