Marie Eileen Defelice DeRouen

New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial, Celebrated by Rev. Conley Bertrand, will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 20, 2017, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in New Iberia for Marie "Eileen" Defelice DeRouen, 74, who passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2017, at her home surrounded by family. A gathering of family and friends will be at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia on Thursday from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM, with Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 PM. Visitation will resume on Friday from 8:00 AM until 9:30 AM. Entombment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery in New Iberia. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Marie "Eileen" Defelice DeRouen was born in Houma, LA on December 22, 1942. She was a longtime resident of New Iberia, and worked as a distributor for American Greeting Cards for many years. Eileen was a very spiritual person who was very active in the Catholic Church. She served as a Eucharistic Minister, participated in Bible studies, and had a Come Lord Jesus Group. She was a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS). She began her vocation in Carmel on September 19, 1982 as a member of Mary, Mother of Grace OCDS Community of Lafayette, LA. In 1985, Eileen made First Promise receiving Marie Eileen of the Child Jesus as her name in Carmel. On November 20, 1988, Eileen became a Definitively Professed member in the Order of Carmel Discalced Secular. In 1994, she was one of the members selected to assist in establishing the newly formed Secular Community in New Iberia, Mary, Beloved of the Trinity, where she served many of those years as President of the Community. Eileen remained an active member of Carmel until The Lord Called her Home. Eileen loved gardening, hummingbirds, and watching old movies, but time spent with her family is what she cherished most. She was the spiritual guide of the family, and will be deeply missed. Eileen is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Ronald "Mousey" Moise Derouen; daughter, Andree DeRouen Chataignier and husband Neil of New Iberia; sons, Ronnie G. DeRouen and wife Stephanie of New Iberia, Stephen DeRouen and wife Tammy of New Iberia, Jon DeRouen of Abbeville, and Matt DeRouen and wife Cristi of Broussard; her mother, Virginia Whitney Defelice LeMaire; brothers, Jimmy Defelice and wife Cathy of Loreauville, Kenny Defelice and wife Donna of Broussard, David Defelice and wife Susan of Loreauville, and Don Defelice and wife Debbie of Youngsville; sisters, Ginger Babineaux and husband Gene of New Iberia, and Faye Lancon and husband Dean of Ft. Worth, TX; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, I.J. "Iggy" Defelice; a daughter, Christine Anne DeRouen; and her paternal grandmother, Clara Douthit. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Compassus, 610 W. Pinhook, Lafayette, LA 70503; Order of Discalced Carmelites Seculars, Mary Beloved of the Trinity, 4217 Bares Rd., Abbeville, LA 70510; or ALS Association, LA/MA Chapter, 11725 Industriplex Blvd., Suite #3, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.