Church Point, La. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Sunday, July 27, 2008 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Church Point; La. for Ms. Julie Fontenot, 90. Monsignor Jefferson J. DeBlanc will conduct the services with interment following in the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Church Point. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM Saturday followed by a prayer service by the Catholic Daughters of America.
Julie Fontenot, a well-loved, lifetime resident of Church Point passed away peacefully, Friday at 5:15 P.M., July 25, 2008 at her residence after a long illness. Julie was born September 5, 1917 in Church Point and attended schools there. She was Valedictorian of her 1935 Senior class. She went on to SLI (now ULL) where she earned a degree in bookkeeping. She began work as a bookkeeper for Church Point Wholesale in 1937 and advanced through the years to Office Manager, a position she held at her retirement in 1994. She was a devoted employee of Church Point Wholesale for 57 years and while employed there she made lots of lifelong friends, many of these she considered family.
While Julie never married, she spent her life as surrogate mother and grandmother to her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. She was always devoted to her family and gave freely of her time, finances, and good advice, especially to the younger ones. She sewed clothes for the girls and made candy and cookies for the boys. As a lifelong, practicing Catholic, Julie stood as an example to all the children who affectionately called her "Nanny Jo".
She was preceeded in death by he parents, Lufroy Fontenot, Sr. and Lezia Bellard Fontenot, her stepmother, Mary Carrier Fontenot, brothers Dennis, Rufus and Zanis Fontenot all of Church Point, sisters Ethel Fontenot Payne of Kansas City, Missouri and Vernice Carrier Prevost of Rayne, sisters-in-law Hazel Comeaux (Mrs. Dennis Fontenot) and Dorothy Christ (Mrs. Lufroy Fontenot, Jr.) and brothers-in-law Donald Payne and Paul Prevost.
Survivors include brothers Lufroy, Jr. and J.J. Fontenot of Church Point and Jules Carrier of Lake Charles; sisters Martha (Mrs. James Bordelon) of Eunice, Betty (Mrs. Herman Thibodeaux) and Bonnie Hooper of Church Point and Patsy (Mrs. Dan Blum) of Lafayette. Also 27 nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews.
The family offers our sincere thanks to her sister, Betty, for her unselfish devotion and care for Julie during her illness. Also our heart felt thanks to the three angels, Jeanne Carroll, Joyce Matte and WillaMae Olivier who lovingly cared for and stayed by her side 24/7 for the past 6 months. Also, thanks to Dr. Mike Williams and all the health care professionals who provided needed assistance during these difficult times.