Marjorie Rabalais Attales
January
23, 1923 - March 15, 2011
Funeral services will be held for Marjorie Rabalais Attales, 88 of Ville
Platte, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ville Platte at 4 p.m., today, March
17. Burial will follow in the Old Ville Platte Cemetery.
A native of the small rural community of Goudeau in
Avoyelles Parish, Ms Attales died at 7 p.m., Tuesday,
March 15, 2011, after a long and fruitful life. Like many people born during
the Great Depression, her early life was spent in hard work as she helped her
family maintain their small cotton farm. That hard work would continue
throughout her life.
She graduated from Evergreen High School, where she played shortstop on the
softball team. After high school, she moved to Alexandria, where she met a
young soldier who would become the love of her life, Wilson Attales,
while working at a department store lunch counter. They fell deeply in love and
married before he shipped out to serve in World War II. When he returned from
service, they moved to his hometown of Ville Platte, and together, they raised
nine children, Yvonne, Sheila, Gerard, Janet, Craig, Beth, Lola, Mark and
Suzanne.
Marjorie lost her husband in 1969. At the young age of 46, she was left with
the responsibility of raising her children alone. While many people search for
their life’s purpose, her purpose was always clear,
her children.
She devoted herself to raising these children to love God and to take care of
each other. She always believed her greatest job was to get her children to
heaven. She was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and later a
member of Our Lady Queen of All Saints Catholic Church.
The last 10 years of her life were spent at Magnolia Estates Nursing Home in
Lafayette. During this time, she was very much loved by the staff and patients.
She spent many hours praying her beloved rosary for her children and for anyone
else in need of prayer. She often wrote letters of encouragement and hope to
staff members who were going through a difficult time. She endeared herself to
everyone with her sharp sense of humor.
Although she care for everyone, Marjorie’s main source
of pride and joy was always her family. Her children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren were always on her mind and in her heart. She prayed for
them endlessly. She will be greatly missed by them.
In addition to her nine children, survivors include 20 grandchildren, Michelle
McCarty, Edward Bergeron III, Tara Ribera, Chase Long, Stephanie Ritter, Laura Attales, Melissa McDermot,
Jennifer Duff, Rob Dupuis, Monica Dupuis, Naomi Quebedeaux,
Katelyn Laughlin, Maggie Fontenot, Sara Fontenot, Ryan Attales,
Jordon Attales, Kelli Attales,
Tyler Attales, Ava Stutes
and Aaron Stutes. She is also survived by 18
great-grandchildren, Megan McCarty, Michael McCarty, Ashley Bergeron, Ryan
Bergeron, John Fontenot, Jacob Fontenot, Wyatt Leger, Chloe Leger, Olivia
Ritter, Thomas Quebedeaux, Jacob Quebedeaux,
Preston Williams, Brett Williams, Malcolm Williams, Sha’nae
Williams, Michael McDermot, Tyler McDermot
and Victoria McDermot.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Bertha Rabalais;
her husband, Wilson Attales; and two grandchildren,
Monica Long and Tish Fontenot.
Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Ville Platte will be in
charge of arrangements.
Source: EvangelineToday.com
Pelican Footnote: Marjorie was a member of the EHS Class of 1940.