Jeunita Richard

Jeunita Labbe Richard

June 9, 1930 – May 12, 2023

Opelousas - Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at 2:00 pm in the St John Chapel in Lewisburg for Jeunita Labbe Richard, age 92, who passed away on May 12, 2023, at 11:15 am. at Acadia St. Landry Nursing & Rehab. She was a native and longtime resident of Lewisburg, Louisiana.

Interment will be held in the Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery in Opelousas.

Father Brian Harrington will officiate at the service. Musical selections will be performed by Jodi Bollich. The gift bearers will be Shayna Broussard and Caleb Prejean.  Lectors will be Jude Richard and Joshua St. Cyr.

Survivors include her children, Brenda Falgout of Lewisburg, Peggy Bradley and her husband, Glen, of Lafayette, Susan Pawlik and her husband, Robert, of The Woodlands, Tx., Jude Richard and his wife, Deborah, of Deer Park, Tx, Doyle Richard and his wife, Donna of Bayou Vista, and Lisa Olivier and her husband, Tim of Lewisburg; thirteen grandchildren, Shayna Falgout Broussard, and her husband, Randy, Solomon J. Falgout, III, and his wife, Viki, Wade Sawyer, Jason Sawyer, Abby Glen Bradley Fontenot and her husband, Landon, Kelly Pawlik Derfler and her husband, Tom, Douglas Pawlik and his wife, Adella, Emily Richard Alpha and her husband, Anthony,  Claire Richard Reiners and her husband, Alex, Rebecca Richard Ryker and her husband, Max, Joshua St. Cyr, Brandi Olivier Barnes and her husband, Kevin, and Brian Olivier, twenty-two great grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Kathleen Labbe.

She was preceded in death by her husband of seventy years, Paul J.B. Richard “Doc”; her parents, Carlton Labbe and the former Mary Lyons; one grandson, Jacob Richard; her brothers, Doyle Berchman Labbe and Murray Labbe; her sisters, Mary Joyce Labbe, Anna Lois Cary and her husband J.C. Cary and Nell Boudreaux and her husband John Boudreaux.

Jeunita was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She went by many names, Mother, Mama, Mom, Momo, and Miss Jane, a nickname from her childhood, playing with her sisters.

She attended school at AIC in Opelousas, graduating in 1947. After patiently waiting for her soldier to return from service in WWII, she and Doc married and began their lives together.

Jeunita worked hard to maintain a happy, healthy home for her husband and children. She was a natural hostess, always welcoming anyone who came visiting with open arms, coffee and usually cake.

Her faith was of great importance to her. She attended mass regularly and brought the children along. She also became a member of a local rosary group that met weekly.

She was an accomplished seamstress, making most, if not all, of her own and her children’s clothing throughout their childhood. She created christening dresses for her children, holiday clothes, even wedding dresses. She enjoyed making costumes for the Krewe of Galatea in Morgan City for 30 years, attending the occasional ball and rarely missing the parade.

She enjoyed and excelled at many types of needle craft; needlepoint, embroidery, hand smocking, crochet, and quilting. She gifted many hand made items to lucky recipients.

In her spare time, she enjoyed creating and maintaining her flower bed.

During their early retirement period, she and Doc traveled these great United States, hitting most of the high points of interest from coast to coast: her most memorable trips were to Yellowstone National Park, The Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns and Niagara Falls. Though one of her favorite destinations was Branson, Missouri.

She loved her family, her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, godchildren, nieces and nephews, brother, sisters, and her in-laws without reservation. She could comfort a baby like no other. If there was a baby around, it was sure to be in her arms. She wouldn’t have it any other way.

One of her very favorite things was Sunday lunch at Momo’s. She would get up early to start her famous homemade bread and cook a literal feast for any and all who would attend.

She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.

Pallbearers will be Solomon J. Falgout, III, Wade Sawyer, Jason Sawyer, Joshua St. Cyr, Randy Broussard, and Kevin Labbe.

A Rosary will be recited on May 15, 2023, at 7:00pm in the Sibille Funeral Home, 2309 George Drive, Opelousas, LA.

The family requests that visitation be observed on May 15, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and will continue on May 16, 2023, from 10:00 am until time of services.

The family of Jeunita Richard would like to extend a heartfelt appreciation to the Staff of Acadia-St. Landy Nursing and Rehab for their years of care, as well as to the team of Hope Healthcare and Hospice. 

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