Rosa Lopez

OpelousasA Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Rosa Mae Walters Lopez will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2014, in Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park with Rev. Mgsr. Keith J. DeRouen as the celebrant.

Rosa Mae Lopez, 91, of Opelousas, LA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, surrounded by family.
Rosa was born June 13, 1923 in Lafayette, LA, to Alfred and Norma Walters. She lived most of her life in Opelousas, LA. She graduated from St. Joseph Hospital in Houston, Texas, as a Registered Nurse. She was a veteran as having served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. Rosa was stationed at Camp Claiborne, LA, where she met and married Julius Lopez.
After returning to Opelousas, she worked at St. Landry Clinic and Opelousas General Hospital for 25 years. She then worked at Vocational Technical School within the St. Landry Parish School System for 7 years where she started a Pilot Program for nurses aides that she taught to high school seniors in St. Landry Parish. Many of her students are still serving in local hospitals and have gone on to become Registered Nurses. This pilot program was her pride and joy as she put her professional name on it. She then went to T. H. Harris and taught Licensed Practical Nursing until retirement.
Even though Nursing was her passion, she felt her greatest achievement was raising and nurturing her 5 children which she did until her death. She was the cornerstone of her family. She loved being a constant part of her children, grand children and greatgrandchildrens daily life. Known to many family members as Roni, she attended every activity, party, wedding, and family gathering she could. Her family always came first. As one grandchild stated, she was the best person at the dinner table to sit next to because it always meant a great story or conversation.
Rosa loved to travel boasting that she went to every state in the U. S. except 3. She also traveled to Europe and many other foreign countries. She loved knowledge and education, loved her daily spiritual readings, her daily prayer list for friends and family, enjoyed getting together with friends and always looked forward to holiday family gatherings.
She always inspired others with her faith, strength and courage. She was a devout Catholic and active in her church community. She touched countless lives by her strong trust in God, her caring and compassionate nature and her infinite words of wisdom. Throughout Rosas life she loved, she laughed, she cared, she gave and she shared. Rosa was always so thankful for her wonderful life full of family and friends and experiences.
Rosas uplifting and positive spirit will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Rosa had a long, full life and her life will always be celebrated with joy by those who called her mother, grandmother and friend.
Rosa was preceeded in death by her husband, Julius Lopez her father, Alfred Walters her mother, Norma Patin Mills and stepfather, James Mills.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Ed Lopez of Opelousas Al Keith Lopez of Lafayette Rick Lopez of Lafayette Norma Lopez Fisette and husband, Lonnie of Lake Charles Dona Lopez Dietlein and husband, Mark of New Iberia and Greg Brandl of Opelousas seven grandchildren, Doug Fisette and wife, Heather Jennifer Fisette Ardoin and husband, Ron Libby Lopez Rees Mary Beth Dietlein Boudreaux and husband, Joe Andrew Lopez and wife, Lindsay Malise Dietlein Martinez and husband, Jeff and Madeline Dietlein Laperouse and husband, Peter and nine greatgrandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Andrew Lopez, Doug Fisette, Ron Ardoin, Jeff Martinez, Joe Boudreaux, and Peter Laperouse.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family is requesting that donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to the South Louisiana Community College T. H. Harris Technical School Nursing Department.
Visiting hours will be held in the Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas on Friday, December 19, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. A Prayer Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday in the funeral home with Fr. Pete Smith officiating.
Words of Comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, December 19, 2014
9 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church
2125 S. Union St.
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, December 19, 2014
12:00 p.m.

Prayer Service

Sibille Funeral Home Chapel
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Friday, December 19, 2014
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Bellevue Memorial Park
4833 Highway 182
Opelousas, LA  70570