Elizabeth Lopez

New Iberia – Funeral services will be conducted for Elizabeth Switzer Lopez, 87, at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 5, 2017, at St. Peters Catholic Church with Fr. Alexander Albert officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Visitation will be on Sunday, March 5, 2017, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and resume on Monday, March 6, 2017, at 8:00 AM until 9:40 AM. A rosary will be prayed in the funeral home on Sunday at 7:00 PM.

A native of Jeanerette and a resident of New Iberia, Mrs. Lopez passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at 7:40 PM at Landmark Nursing Home in Cade.

Elizabeth “Betty” Switzer Lopez, aged 87, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday evening, March 2, with her husband and family members at her side.  Betty was born July 16, 1929, in Jeanerette, Louisiana and lived in New Iberia with her husband of over sixty-eight years, Calise Lopez Jr., providing an inspirational role model of lifelong love and devotion to all of her family and friends.    She was the consummate and gracious homemaker and mother, providing strong, loving guidance and support to her six children, as well as their children and grandchildren, serving as constant yet practical moral compass to her family that serves as her lasting legacy.

She married Calise in 1948 and their faithful and unflagging love has inspired her offspring, all successful and loving parents, and providing a paradigm of parenting all could admire.  She supported her family through the joys and tribulations of life with grace and humor, providing the hugs or nudges, and the occasional "looks", wherever and whenever needed.  Her sharp wit and lively spirit remained unbowed and unyielding to the deterioration and diminishment that inevitably came in the winter of her years.  Throughout her life, she managed what hand life dealt with grace and aplomb, whether managing the family money, morals or misunderstandings, large or small.  The pain to her family and friends of her sudden departure is eased by the endless stories of love and laughter she bounteously provided throughout her life.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, Calise Lopez, Jr. of New Iberia; her children, Melissa Jeanne Lopez of Metairie, Caleen Lopez Lavin and her husband Jim of Opelousas, Randall Lawrence Lopez and his wife Karen of San Anselmo, CA, Alycia Lopez Boudreaux and her husband Mark of New Iberia, Richard Craig Lopez and his wife Michele of Baton Rouge and Stacey Lopez Kleinpeter and her husband Karl of Jackson; her grandchildren, Kristen Piazza Soloman, Karyn Piazza Leach, Daniel Langan, Theo Langan, Anna Lopez Gabele, Jacob Lopez, Nikki Clary LeGlue, Megan Clary Guillory, Madison Lopez, Luke Russell, Jacob Russell, Shanika McRae Auguste, Lacey McRae Landry, Alyssia Beth Kleinpeter, Kalyn Kleinpeter, Andrew Kleinpeter and Kristopher Kleinpeter; her brother, John Switzer and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, George Wesley Switzer and her mother, Jeanne Becnel Switzer.

Pallbearers will be Randy Lopez, Richard Lopez, Andrew Kleinpeter, Kristopher Kleinpeter, Daniel Langan and Theo Langan.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Jamaisha Lewis who was her loving caretaker and accepted as a member of the family.

You can sign the guest register book and / or send condolences at www.davidfuneralhome.org

David Funeral Home of New Iberia, 1101 Trotter St. (337) 369-6336 is in charge of arrangements.