Willie Richard

Cankton- Funeral services for Willie Lee Sibille Richard, age 86, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at St. John Berchman Catholic Church, Cankton, La.; interment will follow in the St. John Berchman Cemetery. Fth. Broussard will conduct the Christian Mass of Burial.

Willie Lee Sibille Richard was born August 23, 1923 to Louis and Belle Sibille of Bristol, La. and passed from this life on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at her home in Bristol. She was the 4th of 7 children. Willie along with three siblings survived into adulthood, Mary Ellinor Mellie Fontenot, Gordon Sibille, and Michael Mikky Sibille. When they were growing up, all of the children worked in the family businesses which included the Sibille Farm and Gin Company and the Sibille Store.

Willie attended Bristol Elementary and graduated from Sunset High School at the age of 15 in 1939. She continued her education SLI U of La. and graduated with a BS in Business Administration at the age of 18 in 1943. She worked as a secretary at a bank in Opelousas for one year. The bank subsequently closed due to the depression. Willie never had a desire to teach, but was approached by the director of T.H. Harris Vocational School to teach business subjects. The director was not concerned that Willie did not have an education degree but placed more value on her knowledge of the subject matter. All other teachers at that time were making 130 a month and Willie was offered 170 a month. Of course being an astute business person, she took the better paying job.

Willie married Norward Richard on December 30, 1945 and after teaching for only 4 years at T.H. Harris decided to stay home to raise her babies at that time----Ricky who died at 15 months of age and Timothy who graduated from USL and currently lives in Missouri City, Texas and is an architect.

In 1954 Superintendent Irvin Bergeron came to her home to ask her to teach 7th grade at Grand Prairie. She did this for one year then her third son, Shane was born so she stayed home again. Shane graduated from LSU and is a teacher at Coconut Creek, FL.

In the fall of 1955 she taught business subjects at Eunice High School for one year. Again the superintendent approached her, this time to start the business education departments at both Leonville and Arnaudville High Schools. She taught a half day at each school so she had no duties, just teaching. She did this for 2 years then a full time teacher was needed at both schools and Willie was allowed to choose at which school she would remain. Willie chose Arnaudville, but only taught a half year when she was again approached about an opening at T.H. Harris. Willie continued to teach at T.H. Harris Where she served as the head of the business education department. She retired in 1980 to travel and to see the U.S.A with family and friends.

Willie also has a much loved grandson, Andrew Richard, the son of Tim Richard.

In 1988, St. Landry was the only parish not to have a parish-wide library system. Julie Olivier and Ellen Broussard called the first meeting to attempt to establish a public library in Sunset, La. in St. Landry Parish. Julie was unable to chair the committee so Jane LeBlanc chaired the committee and Willie became the Vice President. Many meetings and much hard work later the Ward 2 Public Library opened in January 1989. It is at this point that her enthusiasm and drive helped establish the library as we know it today, the South St. Landry Community Library. She served as volunteer member of the library, providing needed services such as book sorter, book filer, book mover, book cleaner, book duster, etc. She was vice president then secretary of the Friends of the Library organization until 1990. Then she was appointed as an at-large member of the Library Board. She served as secretary from 1991 until 2003 and as chairman of the board for a short time. In 2003 her health forced her to find a replacement. She still stays informed of the plans for the library and is truly a Friend of the South St. Landry Community Library.

Willie was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sunset Sertoma Club in 2007.

Mrs. Wille Lee is survived her husband, Norward Richard of Bristol; sons, Timothy Lee Richard of Houston, TX., Shane Sibille Richard of Ft. Lauderdale, FL.; brothers, Gordon Sibille and Michael Mickey Sibille of Sunset, La.; grandson, Andrew Richard of Houston,TX.

Mrs. Willie Lee was preceded in death by a son, Norward Ricky Richard, Jr.; parents, Gaston and Belle Moreau Sibille.

Visiting hours will be observed in the St. John Berchman Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Willie's family would like to say a big thank you to the caregivers; Mary Johnson, Alicia Frederick, Hazel Spence, Diana Johnson and Nicole Bellard. Thanks also is given to Acadiana Hospice and Concepts of Care Home Health Agency.

In lieu of flowers; donations may be made to South St. Landry Community Library in Sunset, La.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Grand Coteau.
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Visitation

St. John Berchman Catholic Church
Hwy 93
Cankton, LA  70584
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Service

Christian Mass

St. John Berchman Catholic Church
Hwy 93
Cankton, LA  70584
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
11:00 a.m.

Cemetery

St. John Berchman Cemetery
Hwy 93
Cankton, LA  70584

Memorial Contributions

Gen. Del.
Sunset, LA  70584