James Soileau

James Rayburn Soileau

Leonville Funeral services for Mr. James Rayburn Soileau, age 73, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2008, in the St Leo the Great Catholic Church, Leonville and the interment will follow in the St Leo Cemetery. Msgr. Paul Metrejean, Father Godwin Nzeh, and Deacon Dewayne Boudreaux will concelebrate the Mass of Christian Burial.

Mr. Soileau passed from this life on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 3:05 p.m. at his residence surrounded by the family that he loved.

Mr. Soileau was born in Grand Prairie, LA, to Ougene and Marie Alda Vidrine Soileau and spent his childhood and the early part of his life there. He then joined the U. S. Navy and served our Country during the Korean Conflict. After his life in the Navy, he returned home and worked as a draftsman for Cary Ironworks for 40 years. Mr. Soileau was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and just being out in nature. He was a member of the Robin Hunting Club in the Whisky Bay Area. Mr. James' greatest love was his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and brother-in-law. He will be sadly missed by everyone that knew him.BR Survivors include his wife, Barbara Ann Soileau, Port Barre; daughters: Paula Gibson Bourque and husband, David, Opelousas; Pauline Marie Ackel and husband, Philip, Natchitoches; and Mary Katherine Simoneaux and husband, Kevin, Opelousas; son, Mark J. Soileau and wife, Mary, Breaux Bridge; sisters: Wilda Soileau, Mercedes Fontenot, Nettie Perrodin, and Nell Jean Arceneaux and husband, Cyrus, all of Grand Prairie. Mr. Soileau leaves a legacy in his grandchildren: Jordan, Peyton, and William Gibson; Ashli and Abe Ackel; Hunter, Kaitlin and Natalie Simoneaux; Tyler and Andre' Soileau. Mr. Soileau also leaves to mourn him, his mother-in-law, Rosa Mae Robin, brothers-in-law: George Robin and wife, Jenelle, and Greg Robin and wife, Paula; sisters-in-law: Rose Marie Dunn and husband, James, Virginia Marks and husband, Jude; and Mary Stoute and husband, Gary.

James was preceded in death by his parents: Ougene and Marie Alda Vidrine Soileau, son-In-law, Jamie Gibson; brother, Ivan Soileau; father-in-law, Robert Robin; brothers-in-law, Paul Soileau and Jimmy Fontenot.

Pallbearers will be Mark Soileau, Kevin Simoneaux, Philip Ackel, David Bourque, George Robin, Greg Robin and the Honorary Pallbearers, Mr. Soileau's Grandsons.

Visiting hours will be observed in the Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas on Friday, July 26, 2008, from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. On Saturday, visitation will continue from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. when we leave to go to St. Leo Catholic Church for the Funeral Mass.

Deacon Dewayne Boudreaux will conduct a Rosary service on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

The family would like to expend special thanks to the M. D. Anderson Physicians and Staff, Dr. James Cole and staff, Dr. Bahman Daneshfar and staff, St. Landry Home Care, LA Hospice Palliative Care, Kenneth Marks and FloChem, and all of the family and friends for their prayers and support.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Mr. James to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.
ests4all.org1'personal trainer

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, July 25, 2008
210 p.m.Sat. 8 a.m.10:30 a.m

Service

Rosary Service

Sibille Funeral Home Chapel
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, July 25, 2008
6:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church
126 Church Rd.
Leonville, LA  70570
Saturday, July 26, 2008
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

St. Leo The Great Catholic Church Cemetery
126 Church St.
Leonville, LA  70570

Memorial Contributions

St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN  38105

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
P.O. Box 4486
Houston, TX  77210