Lorraine Mary Viator

Lafayette – A Mass of Christian Burial for Lorraine Landry Viator, 97, will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at St. Anne Catholic Church with Fr. Louie Richard officiating. Interment will follow at Lafayette Memorial Park.

Visitation will begin at 3:00PM on Friday, July 12, 2024, at David Funeral Home of Lafayette until 8:00PM with a recitation of the rosary at 6:30PM. Visitation will resume at 8:00AM on Saturday, July 13, 2024 until the time of service.

Lorraine Viator was an amazing woman. She grew up on Avery Island with roots connected to The McIlhenny Co., producer of Tabasco.  In earlier years, she worked as a switchboard operator for South Central Bell; that goes way back.  On June 28, 1952 in New Iberia, LA, she was united in marriage to the love of her life, Allen Viator.   They were happily married for 54 years.  During that time, she was a stay-at-home mother of five rambunctious children.  Lorraine was a devoted, loving, and kind wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.  Her family and faith were the essence of her life.

What made her special was her boundless energy with a zeal for life and a huge, compassionate heart.  She was friendly, smart, and insightful.  As honest as she was, she also was known to occasionally cheat at cards, often expressing that it was her rules.  Her sharp wit and great sense of humor kept us entertained, even those at Cornerstone at the Ranch over the past couple of years.  The twinkle in her eyes each time she smiled and expressed herself with snappy quips endeared her to everyone.

Spending time with her family was what Lorraine enjoyed the most.  In addition, she loved to cook, preparing our favorite meals along with some “unique’ ones that she refused to tell her children what it was until they tried it.   In her spare time, she enjoyed completing jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, especially Canasta and Kings in the Corner, painting, and bird watching.  Cardinals were her favorites.

Lorraine was very devoted to her Catholic faith with an unconditional love for our Lord Jesus Christ.  She raised her family to follow along with her convictions.  She was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Broussard, LA for more than 50 years serving as a Eucharistic minister and a member of the Ladies Altar Society.  Lorraine was very charitable with her time, talents, and money volunteering with meal preparation, visits to nursing homes, and meeting various needs of people in the community.  Each day, she would spend countless hours praying for those she loved and those in need, while drinking a cup or two of her favorite coffee.

Always desiring to travel, God gifted her and her husband with trips of her dreams throughout the United States, as well as internationally.  She would share of her adventures with such enthusiasm.

Lorraine was beloved by everyone she touched.  What a wonderful life she had!  She has lived Proverbs 31:28 “Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her.”

She is survived by her children, Wana Baker and her husband Scott of Lucas, Tx, Stephanie Richards and her husband Greg of New Orleans, La, Tim Viator and his wife, Charisse of Tomball, Tx, Chris Viator and his wife Liz of Lafayette and Jill Soignier and her husband Johnny of Lafayette; fourteen grandchildren, Krisa Choplin and her husband Jerry, Chaz Viator, Alexis Viator and her husband Marcelo Antunes, Tallie Sonnier and her husband Scott, Lauren Skinner, Austin Skinner, Meagan Skinner, Nicholas Viator, Nicole Harvey and her husband Brandon, Benjamin Soignier, Amber Martin and her husband Jonathan, Rocky Benoit and his wife Monique, Adam Baker, and Ali Baker and her husband Kyle Long; fourteen great-grandchildren, Kirsten Choplin, Ashtin Choplin, Alex Viator, Jacques Sonnier, Tyler Sonnier, Brennen Viator, Lucas Antunes, Beatrice Antunes, Evelyn Cosby, Jolie Benoit, Elijah Benoit, Kaden Long, Kolton Long, and Kelsi Long; and five great-great-grandchildren, Vaeda Choplin, Laeya Choplin, Rhemy Gale, Karly Gale, and Rhett Choplin.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Allen John Viator; her parents, Procile and Emerite Dubois Landry; a sister, Lucille Fitch; and a brother, Presley Landry.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Viator, Tim Viator, Benjamin Soignier, Austin Skinner, Greg Richards, and Nicholas Viator.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations to be made to Catholic Charities of Acadiana in honor of Lorraine Viator. https://catholiccharitiesacadiana.org/

David Funeral Home 316 Youngsville Hwy Lafayette, La 70508 (337) 837-9887 will be in charge of the arrangements.