Mrs. Velma Helen Lastrapes

Obituary Velma Helen Auzenne Lastrapes was born in Monroe, Louisiana on July 28, 1934 to Aramise and Carrie Decuir Auzenne. She entered eternal rest on Thursday, April 26, 2018, at Lafayette General Hospital, surrounded by family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA. Visiting hours will be observed from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Williams Funeral Home. A Rosary will be recited at 9:00 AM. She graduated from St. Landry Training School in 1952. After high school, Velma obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education as well as a Master’s Degree +30 from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She taught in the St. Landry Parish School System for 30 years, retiring in 1988. Velma was a life member of the Southern University Alumni Association and a member of its local chapter. She belonged to the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary Court 46 in Leonville and the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies of Grace 4th degree Court 7 in Opelousas. Additionally, she belonged to the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association, the St. Landry Parish Retired Educators Association, the Legion of Mary and the Salve Regina Rosary Group. Her hobbies were reading, doing word search puzzles, dancing and listening to Zydeco music. Velma traveled extensively taking her as far as Sicily, Italy where she visited the Vatican and attended mass with the Pope. Her travels also took her to Mexico, the Bahamas, Canada, Hawaii and many other states in the US. In her later years, she did not care to travel because she said, “I’ve been there and done that. I just want to do what I want to do as long as I want to do it. I’ve worked hard and earned that privilege.” She leaves to cherish her memories: her loving and devoted husband of 61 years, Jude “Bunny” Lastrapes; six children: Keith Lastrapes of Jacksonville, FL; Tanya Lastrapes Griffin of Woodstock, GA; Darin Lastrapes and Alanna Lastrapes Barbour, both of Opelousas, LA; Dionne Lastrapes Williams of Frisco, TX; and Scott Lastrapes of Columbia, MD; two daughters-in-law: Wanda and Rosalind Lastrapes; three sons-in-law: Scott Griffin, Paul Barbour, and Antonio Williams; eighteen grandchildren: Ashley, Henley, Kara, Lance, Ricardo, Nicholas, Erin, Ryan, Shelbi, Sierra, Hunter, Jordyn, Madison, Nyah, Jaya, Linda, Courtney and Norman; seven great-grandchildren: Morgan, Kaiden, Peyton, Addison, Beau Danielle, Micaiah, and Korryn; two sisters, Mildred Lemelle and Ruby Chavis; five Godchildren: Delores Barnaba, Ann Harris, Carla Lemelle, Alicia Auzenne and Johanna Guillory; and a host of family and friends. She was preceded in death by two sons, Todd Anthony and Jude Thaddeus Lastrapes; parents: Aramise and Carrie Auzenne; in-laws: Henley, Wilda and Grace Lastrapes; sister: Emily Ruth Auzenne, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends. Share words of comfort with the Lastrapes family at www.williamsfuneralhomes.net Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Williams Funeral Home of Opelousas, 337-942-2037.

Tributes

Mrs. Velma Helen Lastrapes

July 28, 1934 - April 26, 2018