Gladys Chachere

Opelousas – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Gladys Chachere on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Opelousas. MSGR. Keith DeRouen will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial. Rite of committal will follow at Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery.

Gladys, age 106, entered into eternal rest, peacefully on Monday, March 14, 2022, at her home. Gladys’s secret to living a long, healthy life was, “Keep moving, you gotta just keep moving”.

She graduated from Sunset High School, and from The Academy of Sacred Heart-Teacher College in Grand Coteau in 1937.  She then taught school in the parish.

She married her first husband, J.B. Wheat, became a homemaker, lived in various places, and settled in Jackson, Mississippi. After his death, she moved back to Opelousas & returned to teaching until she retired.

She married her 2nd husband, Ike Chachere. They were together for over 40 years until his death.

Gladys loved gardening.  She had many flower gardens and always had a vegetable garden, as well. She traveled extensively throughout her lifetime. She volunteered at OGH for over 20 years, until she was 98 years old.  She enjoyed walking, doing water aerobics and stretch aerobics at the health club through the age of 99.

Special thanks to her wonderful, loving caretakers: Marie Thomas, Debra Morgan, Fannie Auzenne and Mary Lavergne.

Gladys is survived by stepson, Scott Chachere of Denham Springs, brother, Vernon Richard of Harvey, LA., and 17 nieces & nephews.

Gladys is preceded in death by her first husband, J.B. Wheat, second husband, Ike B. Chachere, Jr., her parents, Henry and Electa Richard, stepson, Larry Chachere, stepdaughter, Barbara Martin; sisters: Sister Grace Richard, Catherine Whiteside, Edna Burleigh, Mary Alice Robin, and Lou Pitre; brothers, Herbert Richard, Harry Richard, and J Y Richard, 2 nephews and 1 niece.

Pallbearers: nephews, David Robin, Ronnie Burleigh, Frank Richard, Joe Richard, Jeffery Richard and Scott Pitre

Honorary Pallbearers: nephews, Richard Whiteside, Tommy Burleigh, Ricky Richard and neighbor, Thom Daly.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 25, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. by Sammy Diesi and will resume on Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

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