Church Point, La. Julia Nelda Fontenot passed away unexpectedly at the age of 90 on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 4:00 pm at her home. Nelda was a native of Church Point, Louisiana, born on March 10, 1924. She was a graduate of an all-girls college, Our Lady of the Lake in San Antonio, Texas. Upon returning to Church Point, she worked as the secretary at the Church Point Wholesale until her retirement in 1989. She was a devout Roman Catholic and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America as well as a Eucharistic minister to the elderly at the Acadia-St. Landry Guest Home. Nelda was an avid reader and belonged to a Church Point book club. She enjoyed playing pokeno and taking trips to the casino with her friends. She was an independent spirit that loved life and never missed out on an adventure or chance to spend time with her family. She loved traveling and had taken many trips to several different countries. Her most memorable trips were to Israel, the Vatican and to the country of Slovakia, the birthplace of her grandfather, John Horecky, who immigrated to Church Point in the early 1900's and opened the Church Point Wholesale.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, former Louisiana Senator, Oscar Guidry and Nita Horecky Guidry, siblings Owen Guidry, Terry Guidry and Donna Guidry Onebane. She is survived by one sister, Betty Ann Guidry Bush of Rayne and four children, Judy Fontenot Madden and her husband, Michael Madden of Alexandria, Vaughn Fontenot and his wife, Jeanette Leger Fontenot, Jennifer Fontenot Smith and husband, Charles Smith, and Denise Fontenot Daugereaux and husband Patrick Daugereaux-all of Church Point. Granny, as she was known by many, was blessed with fourteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great grandchildren and her greatest enjoyment was spending time with them. She also had many nieces, nephews and close friends that cared for her greatly.
We are blessed to have had her with us for so many years to share in many great memories that will be forever cherished.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Church Point. Monsignor Jefferson J. DeBlanc will conduct the services with interment following in the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cemetery on Highway 35 north of Church Point.
The family requested that visiting hours be observed from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm on Tuesday, February 3 and continue from 8:00 am Wednesday until the time of the services. A recitation of the Rosary will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday by Monsignor DeBlanc.
Pallbearers will be Vaughn Oscar Fontenot, Chris Madden, Pat, Jake and Justin Daugereaux and Broc Bellard. Honorary Pallbearer will be Connor Rahbany. Altar Servers will be Wick Venable and Thomas Daugereaux.
Arrangements are being handled by Guidry Funeral Home, Inc.; 219 N. Broadway, Church Point, La. (337) 684-5488. View the obituary and guest book on-line at guidryfuneralhome.com.