Duson, La. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 24, 2011 at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Duson, La. for Laura Venable Guidry, age 77. Mrs. Guidry, the former Laura Marie Venable, passed away at 10:30 P.M. on March 21, 2011 at Acadia-St. Landry Nursing Home in Church Point, La. after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's.
Father Allen Breaux will conduct the services with interment following in the St. Theresa Cemetery in Duson.
"Mom was born in the small community of Coulee Croche, in rural St. Landry Parish on June 6, 1933. Her family moved to the community of Higginbotham, where she grew up and met Dad. They moved to a farm in the community of Mire, where together they worked side by side farming the land for the Lyons family. They later moved to the town of Duson, where she became a full time homemaker. From this marriage they had two daughters, Debbie and Annette, to whom she dedicated the remainder of her life teaching us Christian values, the importance of love and dedication to family. She was happiest surrounded by family and friends at her kitchen table, serving coffee and conversation."
Survivors include her daughter, Debbie Guidry of Duson; her three grandchildren, Justin Schouest of Duson, Sarah Schouest Turner and her husband Jarret of Lafayette, La. and Kristin Garcia of Spring, Tex. and her two great-grandchildren, Madeline and Tyler Turner. She is also survived by her six sisters, Anna Fontenot of Church Point, twin sisters Elvie Guilbeaux and Evie Harmon of Church Point, Emma Childers of Jasper, Tex., Sherry Jones of Church Point, Saybel Montet (Noel) of Gretna, La., and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Norbert Guidry; her daughter, Annette Guidry Garcia; her parents, Joseph, Sr. and Louise (Duplechin) Venable; her eldest brother, Duplex Venable and younger brother, Joseph "Joe" Venable, Jr.
The family requested that visiting hours be observed from 9:00 A.M. until 9:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 23 and continue from 8:00 A.M. Thursday until the time of services at St. Theresa Community Center in Duson, La. A rosary will be recited at 4:00 P.M. by the Ladies Altar Society and again at 7:00 P.M. by Father Breaux on Wednesday, March 23.
Pallbearers will be Jarret Turner, Chris and Daniel Venable, Larry, Steven, and Kenneth Fontenot and Rodney Forrestier.
Becky Richard and Paula Higginbotham will sing "The Old Rugged Cross", "Amazing Grace" and "Be Not Afraid".
"A special thanks to her niece Tammy Stelly and her husband, Mike, her sisters, Anna Fontenot and Sherry Jones for all of their love and dedication to Mom during her lengthy battle with this horrific disease. Thanks also to Drs. Curtis and Duhon, the staff of Acadia-St. Landry Hospital and the wonderful nurses and staff of Hospice of Acadiana."