Norma Gail Soileau Phillips

Opelousas - A Mass of Christian Burial for Gail S. Phillips, age 83, will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. in the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Opelousas. Msgr. Keith DeRouen will be celebrating the Mass. Inurnment will be held in the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Washington, LA.

Gail, a native of Washington, LA., passed away on September 16, 2023, at Opelousas General Health System at 11 am with her family at her side.  

She was a retired school teacher with the St. Landry Parish School Board, having also taught several years at Belmont Academy. She was previously a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Washington, the Ladies Altar Society, Washington Rosary Group, and a Eucharistic Minister at Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Gail dearly loved her faith, family, friends, and students, many of whom she kept in touch with.

She was a wonderful seamstress, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She and J.L. enjoyed camping and traveling throughout the U.S.

Survivors include her husband, of 63 years, J.L. Phillip, Jr.; her two daughters, Lynette Phillips McKinney of Opelousas, and Stephanie Phillips of New Orleans, LA.; her four grandchildren, Phillip McKinney, Matthew McKinney, Phoebe Rose Fortenberry, and Avery Erin Fortenberry; her three great-grandchildren, Carson Phillip McKinney, Caleb Matthew McKinney and Bree Michelle McKinney; three sisters, Gloria Soileau of Washington, Shirley Ruth S. Marcus of Opelousas, and Carolyn S. Macip of Washington; her nephews and nieces, Wynn, Don, Nancy, Allison, DeeDee, Will and Marcus; as well as many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Michelle Phillips; son-in-law, Jim Fortenberry; her parents, Shirley J.  and Ruth Doucet Soileau; her in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Lynch Phillips; and four great nephews, Michael Alexander, Carlos, Jared and Caleb.

The family request visiting hours be observed from 4 p.m. till 8 p.m. on Friday September 22, 2023, A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 pm. in the funeral home. Visitation will resume on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 12 noon in the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Wynn Buller, Will Buller, Marcus Macip, Dwayne Phillips Phillip McKinney, and Matthew McKinney. Don Buller will be an honorary pallbearer. 

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