Cheryl Roberie Soileau

Breaux Bridge - Cheryl Roberie Soileau, age 64, passed away on March 26, 2016 at Lafayette General Hospital. Cheryl was born in Ville Platte, Louisiana, the daughter of Oscar Roberie and Lura Roberie Reed Shuff, both of whom predeceased her. Cheryl was a graduate of Ville Platte High School and relocated to Breaux Bridge, Louisiana in 1976, after marrying Glenn Soileau. Cheryl had a diverse career life, which she started right after high school as a legal secretary. She later took up art as a passionate hobby and enjoyed working with multiple media including charcoal, pastels, and oil. Inspired by the Cajun themed works of George Rodrigue, she painted her rendition of Jolie Blondes First Date, the original of which hangs in Landrys Art Gallery today. She also loved hunting for antiques and frequently visiting flea markets in search of items to sell at her antique store, Le Napoleon, in down town Breaux Bridge. Here, she loved meeting customers from all over the world and sharing her love for antiques and Cajun culture. Cheryl was a proud purveyor of her Cajun heritage and talented chef, who could whip up any number of Cajun specialty dishes without the need for a recipe or exact measurements. She was often found instructing her grandson, Gage, who stood on a chair in front of the stove because he was too little to reach the pot for stirring and adding ingredients. An out of town visitor to the Breaux Bridge crawfish festival was once offered a sampling of her crawfish bisque and proclaimed it to be the best meal he ever had in his life. But above all, Cheryls greatest passion was caring for her family and people she loved. She was a selfless and loving person who always put the needs of others before her own. She was many things to many people- an artist, a chef, an entrepreneur, an antique connoisseur, a confidant, and a friend- but above all she was a devoted and unwavering wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Cheryl is survived by her husband of 40 years, Glenn Soileau; her sons, Jacques Soileau and his wife Laci Soileau, Jean Soileau and his significant other Kendra Duplechain, her step daughter Niki Soileau Beeson; her 3 grandchildren Gage, Sophie, and Pierre Soileau, and 1 step grandson Collin Duplechain; her sisters, Vickie Couvillion and Betty Foret, both of Lafayette, and step sister, Eleaner Hartlage, of Florida; and by numerous nieces and nephews whom she adored. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 1:30 pm until 10:00 pm on Wednesday, and continue on Thursday at 7:00 am until 12:00 pm, at Pellerin Funeral Home in Breaux Bridge. A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 pm, on Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Lafayette. Rev. Michael Russo will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Pallbearers will be Jacques Soileau, Jean Soileau, Collin Duplechain, John Foret, Eddie Foret, and Earl (Sonny) Hollier. Honorary pallbearer will be Glenn Soileau. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge, 211 Berard St., Breaux Bridge, LA 70517, (337-332-2199) is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com