Diane Willingham

Opelousas – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Diane Willingham on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Leo Catholic Church in Leonville. Fr. Darren Eldridge will celebrate the Mass. Rite of committal will follow at the church mausoleum.

Diane, age 73, entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at Senior Village Nursing Home in Opelousas.

Diane could often be found talking on the phone with friends scrolling through the daily newsfeed while drinking her coffee with the T.V. playing in the background. She was a member of the Altar Society, St. Jude’s and the Bereavement Society. Diane enjoyed playing Pokeno and going to the casino. She was a dedicated employee at Champagnes for many years. Diane was also a supervisor & dispatcher for 911 emergency services from which she later retired. She received a District Service Award in recognition of her outstanding service and a certificate for Communication Center Supervisor. Diane will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her; especially her granddaughters who called her Gram!

Diane is survived by her husband, Francis Donald Willingham; sons, Kevin Willingham and wife, Chawntelle, Kerry Willingham and wife, Brandy all of Leonville; sisters, Cheryl Priola and husband, Peter of River Ridge, and Darlene Corona and partner, Jodi Wilkinson of Mandeville; grandchildren, Kate Willingham and Hope Willingham; grand-dog, Lucy Willingham; nephews, Justin and wife, Stephanie of Baton Rouge, Stephan Priola of River Ridge and Christian Priola of Slidell; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, John and Linda Willingham of Leonville, and brother-in-law, Roy Corona of Kenner.

Diane is preceded in death by her parents, Merlin and Leona Lambert; paternal grandparents, Simon Joseph Lambert and Annette Lambert; maternal grandparents, Leo Gagnard and Harriet Gagnard.

Pallbearers are Justin Priola, Stephen Priola, Christian Priola, Paul Saizan, Nick Degueyter and Dallas Barrow.

Honorary Pallbearers are Kevin and Kerry Willingham

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Sibille Funeral Home in Opelousas. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all the friends who were a part of her life, especially her caregiver Ms. Sarah Frederick, who became a dear friend.

Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.