Camille Fortier Lapeyrouse

Camille Fortier Lapeyrouse, 84, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2024 at her residence.

Born to Karl Fortier and Rose Thibeaux Fortier on August 14, 1939, Camille was a lifelong resident of Jeanerette. She was dedicated to her community, which she served through numerous organizations, including the Jeanerette Garden Club, Entre Nous women’s club, executive board member of the Jeanerette Bicentennial Museum, and board member of Dauterive Hospital. She was a faithful Catholic and was committed to her local churches; she taught religion at St. John the Evangelist and assisted with church fairs at Our Lady of the Rosary. As a member of the Board of Directors of the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce, she served as the coordinator of the Jeanerette Cookbook, which raised funds for the beautification of downtown Jeanerette. She was named Outstanding Citizen by the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce in 1985.

Camille was an avid gardener with an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and a gifted and prolific artist whose paintings captured the landscapes of southern Louisiana as well as the flowers she loved. Her paintings were often donated to local fundraising events. She was also a talented florist and owner of Camille’s Flower Shop. Over the years she dedicated her time to creating floral arrangements for community functions and to decorating the church for holidays and special occasions. Her family often enjoyed unique arrangements of flowers cut from her garden decorating her home. She also worked part-time at Lapeyrouse Motors alongside her husband and children.

She is survived by her children, David Lapeyrouse, Michael Lapeyrouse, and Jeanne Clement (Jeff); grandchildren, Juliette Lapeyrouse-Cherry (Jacob), Marielle Lapeyrouse, and Kyle Clement; great-grandchildren, Margot, Edmond, and Mariska Selig; and siblings, Jennifer Fortier LeBlanc (Danny) and Tony Fortier (Gretchen).  She was preceded in death by her husband, John P. Lapeyrouse; parents, Karl and Rose Fortier; daughter-in-law, Judy Powell Lapeyrouse; and sister, Susan Fortier Landry.

The family would like to thank the caregivers who assisted Camille in her final years.

A private funeral mass was held on January 6, 2024. Donations in Camille’s memory may be made to Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 11200 Old Jeanerette Rd, Jeanerette, LA 70544.