Myrtis Champagne

MYRTIS ROSE THIBEAUX CHAMPAGNE

Port Barre Myrtis Rose Thibeaux Champagne, age 83, died at 2:45 p.m. on January 27, 2011 at Ollie Steele Burden Manor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana following a lengthy illness, services will be held on Monday, January 31, 2010, in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Port Barre. She was born in Lafayette, Louisiana on April 24, 1927. She was a graduate of the Mount Carmel High 1943 where she was very active in the Sodality of Our Lady and was selected Queen of the May Festival by her peers and teachers. She enrolled at the Southwestern Louisiana Institute now the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, completing a four year degree in Secretarial Science in only three years in 1946. While at S.L.I. she was active in the Newman Club and was the recipient of the Golden Rose, an award given to the outstanding senior. Upon graduation she obtained employment as secretary to Mr. Curtis Rodemaker, a position she maintained with skill and efficiency until her marriage to the late Walter J. Champagne, Jr. on October 30, 1948. The newlyweds made their residence in Port Barre, Louisiana where they owned and operated the Walter J. Champagne Company, a grocery, hardware, and general merchandise business. She was the proud mother of nine children. She is survived by her children, Lenora L. Champagne husband, Robert Lyons of New York, New York, Walter J. Champagne, III wife, Jodie of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Myrna C. Champagne of Marksville, Louisiana, Keith C. Champagne life companion, Paul Gruber of New York, New York, Randall L. Champagne wife, Geraldine, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lisa A. Champagne husband, the late Gary Biernacki of Charlotte, North Carolina, Phyllis R. Champagne of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Thomas S. Champagne of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Myrtis M. Fontenot husband, David, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and ten grandchildren, Amelie Lyons, Allison and Tracie Champagne, Everett Di Napoli, Claire, Joseph and Mark Biernacki, Sophia and Olivia Holland, and Elliot Fontenot. She is also survived by a sister, Joycelyn Cortese of Lafayette, Louisiana, and three brothersinlaw, Ronald Ronnie Cortese, Malcolm Mickey Bienvenue of Syracuse, New York, and Howard Champagne of Leonville, Louisiana, as well as by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and soninlaw, she was preceded in death by her parents, Edmar Ed Thibeaux and Juiszelle Nunez Thibeaux, her sisters, Elsie Ruth Bienvenue and Melva Ann Dugas of Lafayette, Louisiana, brotherinlaw, Dale Dugas, and sisterinlaw, Sarah Champagne. She was a lifelong devout Roman Catholic, a student of art, music, and literature, an accomplished cook, and a dedicated, gentle, and loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sisterinlaw, motherinlaw, and aunt who will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
A rosary service will be on Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Sibille Funeral Home chapel.
The family request that visitation be held on Sunday, January 30, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will reopen on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com.
Funeral arrangements have entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Port Barre.

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
402 Saizan Avenue
Port Barre, LA  70577
Sunday, January 30, 2011
2pm7:30pm Mon 9am10:30am

Service

Rosary Service

Sibille Funeral Home Chapel
402 Saizan Avenue
Port Barre, LA  70577
Sunday, January 30, 2011
6:30 pm

Mass of Christan Burial

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
403 Saizan Avenue
Port Barre, LA  70577
Monday, January 31, 2011
11:00am

Cemetery

Sacred Heart CemeteryHa
403 Saizan Avenue
Port Barre, LA  70577