Vandelle Marie Guilbeau "Van" Latiolais

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Friday, February 24, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cecilia, LA, for Vandelle Marie Guilbeau Latiolais, 90, who passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017, at the Carpenter House in Lafayette, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be observed beginning at 7:00am on Friday, February 24, 2017, at Pellerin Funeral Home in Cecilia, LA until the time of the funeral mass service. A rosary will be recited at 10:00am. Celebrating the mass will be Father Donald Pelous. Inurnment beside her husband will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Vandelle (Van) was a native of Cecilia, LA, and a resident of Breaux Bridge for 60 years. She was a graduate of Cecilia High School and received her B.A. in Education from Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she was president of The Girls Club. She taught 3rd and 4th grades in the St. Martin Parish School System at Cecilia and Breaux Bridge Primaries for 33 years. To say she was beloved by her students is an understatement. She inspired so many to follow in her footsteps to become teachers, including her nieces and granddaughter. Van lived a life of unwavering faith not only in Jesus but in her family. Her fondness of food, coffee, musicals, and LSU/Cecilia football, was only outdone by her deep love for her son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her nieces and nephews. She is survived by her son Burney (B.J.) Latiolais, Jr., and his wife Laurie of Lafayette; her four grandchildren, Dr. Sarah Latiolais-Ardoin and her husband Philip, Chief Petty Officer Jason Latiolais and his wife Caroline, Callie Latiolais-Roessler and her husband Colby, and Joseph Latiolais; her great grandchildren Jaxon, Penelope, and Aaron; and numerous cherished nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Burney Joseph Latiolais, Sr., her parents Julien Charles Guilbeau and Elda Champagne Guilbeau-Latiolais, her step-father Arthur Joseph Latiolais, and her brother Clerphe Guilbeau. Pallbearers will be Jason Latiolais, Joseph Latiolais, Philip Ardoin, Colby Roessler, Larry Guilbeau, David Guilbeau, and Randy Racca. Honorary pallbearers will be Lyle Kirby, Jimmy Duplechien, Mike Biglane, Chad Case, Nolan Begnaud, Buddy LeBlanc, and Glen Breaux. The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses on the 5th floor at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, St. Joseph Hospice, the staff at Brookdale, Dr. Warren Degatur, and Dr. Frank Courmier for their compassionate care. Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Joseph Catholic Church, P.O. Box 279, Cecilia, LA, 70517, or St. Bernard Catholic Church, 219 E. Bridge, Breaux Bridge, LA, 70517. Pellerin Funeral Home of Cecilia is in charge of arrangements. Online obituary and guest book may be viewed at www.pellerinfuneralhome.com