Rodney Hession

Rodney HessionbrbrGrand Coteau - Funeral Services for Rodney Hession, age 95, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 4, 2010, in St. Charles Catholic Church, Grand Coteau, La. Interment will follow in the St. Charles Church Cemetery. Father Jim Lambert S.J. will conduct the Mass of Christian Burial.brbr Mr. Rodney passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at his residence in LaPlace, La.; surrounded by his loving family.br Mr. Hession was a native of Sunset, La., where he graduated from Sunset High School and was a long-time resident of New Orleans; for the last few years he was living in LaPlace, La. close to his son and family. Mr. Rodney joined the U.S. Marine Corp in August of 1933; he re-enlisted for a second 4 year hitch and was honorably discharged. He came home to marry his sweetheart and love of his life; Velma Marie Falcon of Algiers, LA, on August 16, 1941. Mr. Rodney knew that WWII was eminent so re-enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private. He was placed under the wing of Sgt. Elborn Davis as his gunner and rose to be a Corporal and a gunner after only 3 months. He was then promoted to Sgt. Tank Commander when Sgt. Davis was killed in action flushing out a Nazi machine gun nest. Rodney was wounded during WWII, when his tank overturned and the turret door crushed his right hand and amputating 2 of his fingers and crushing 2 others, he received the Purple Heart Medal and was honorably discharged. After the war he returned to Louisiana and began working as a sheetrock hanger, finisher and painter. He started his own business and ran it until his retirement. Mr. Rodney was the founder and past president of the WWII 3rd Armored Tank Division Reunion Group, Deep South Chapter; he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Mr. Rodney loved being outdoors and found as much time as he could to pursue this love. Mr. Rodney is going to be missed by family and friends. br Survivors include his wife, Velma Falcon Hession, LaPlace, La.; son, Brent Hession and wife Susan, LaPlace, La.; daughter, Karen Nurnberg and husband Ron, Cortez, CO.; grandchildren, Scott Hession and Ashley Hession, LaPlace, La.; brother, Ray Hession, Sunset, La.br br Visiting hours will be observed in the Sibille Funeral Home in Grand Coteau on Monday, January 4, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A Rosary will be recited at 11:30 a.m.br Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com.br Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Grand Coteau.br

Visitation

Sibille Funeral
I-49 Service Rd. South
Grand Coteau, LA  70541
Monday, January 4, 2010
10.00 a.m. until service

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

St. Charles Catholic Church
174 Church St.
Grand Coteau, LA  70541
Monday, January 4, 2010
2:00 p.m

Cemetery

St. Charles Cemetery
Grand Coteau, LA  70541