Giles Deshotels, Jr.

Prairie Ronde- A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2016, for Giles Deshotels, Jr. in the Sacred Heart Chapel in Prairie Ronde. Rite of Committal and Interment will follow in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Prairie Ronde.

Giles Deshotels, Jr., known to his family and friends for his years of service and education in Praire Ronde and Opelousas, passed away at the South West Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jennings, Louisiana on December 30, 2015.

Giles graduated from AIC and went on to earn bachelors' degrees in horticulture and education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He taught for many years at Opelousas Junior High School as a science teacher.

Growing up he was an active Boy Scout and earned the prestigious awards for Eagle Scout and Most Valuable Boy Scout for the Evangeline Council Area. He went on to found troops in Praire Ronde and Arnaudville and became Scout Master for Troop 30 in Opelousas.

He continued his time of service by joining the United States Army and then the United States Air Force. Upon retirement he became very active in the American Legion Post 45 where he held numerous leadership positions including Post Commander and the State Commander's Aid for 1968.

Most notably he earned the rank of Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus, which was an extension of his service to Sacred Heart Chapel in Praire Ronde, Louisiana. There he was active at the Cursillo Center as an organizer and made one of the first Cursillos in Praire Ronde.

Upon retirement from the Saint Landry Parish school system, Giles ran the Praire Ronde water system and the local skeet field. He was a consummate conversationalist, enjoying talking and catching up with neighbors and friends. He also loved gardening and grew tomatoes in his green houses.

He is survived by his wife Ida Leger Deshotels of Jennings, Louisiana, where they have resided for the past 19 years, his brother Donald Deshotels of Opelousas, Louisiana, and his children Alice Deshotels Gautreaux of Opelousas, Stacey Deshotels Franchebois and husband Luke of Lafayette, LA, Luke Deshotels and wife Kendall of Marietta, GA, and Judy Deshotels of Baton Rouge, LA. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Florence Ledoux Deshotels, his parents Giles Deshotels, Sr. and Stella Sylvester Deshotels, and his son-in-law William Gautreaux.

Visitation will begin on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm with a rosary said at 7 pm in the Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas. On Monday visitation will be held in the Sibille Funeral Home at 8:00 am followed by the funeral at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Chapel in Praire Ronde.

Funeral arrangements will be conducted by Sibille Funeral Home in Opelousas.

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Sunday, January 3, 2016
4 pm- 8:30 pm

Sibille Funeral Home
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, January 4, 2016
8:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.

Service

Rosary

Sibille Funeral Home Chapel
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Sunday, January 3, 2016
7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial

Sacred Heart Chapel
Hwy 104
Prairie Ronde, LA  70570
Monday, January 4, 2016
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Sacred Heart CemeteryPrairie Ronde
Highway 104
Opelousas, LA  70570