Mary Cefalu

Mary Elizabeth Lussan “Bet” Cefalu, 96, a native of Luling and a 71 year resident of Morgan City died Monday, July 5, 2010, at her home surrounded by her family. Bet was a loving, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, totally cherished by her entire family. She was a woman of tremendous faith in Our Lord, with a profound trust in Him that carried her through many of life’s most difficult moments. Throughout the years she imparted that faith to her very large family with gusto. She had a wonderful mind; reading, parenting, and solving crossword puzzles until a week before her death. She was a strong proponent of Education, having earned degrees in Education and Library Science for herself, and, along with her husband Joe, provided college educations for each of their eight children. She taught English at Morgan City High School for 3 years and was the Librarian at Inglewood School for 3 years; but will be most remembered as the Librarian at M. E. Norman Elementary for 17 years. Bet was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an Education Honor Society. She was a charter member of Entre’ Nous and the Krewe of Galatea, a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, the Morgan City Garden Club, a religious education teacher, a leader of the Girl Scouts, and served on the Sacred Heart School Board. She was also awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by the Morgan City Rotary Club, and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Boy Scouts of America, Chitamacha District. Bet is survived by five daughters, Mary Beth C. Duplantis, Jo Ann C. Blanchard and husband, Gerald, and Peggy C. Gowland and husband Charles, all of Morgan City; Jacqueline C. David and husband, Dwayne, of Lafayette and Helena C. Montgomery and husband Michael, of Opelousas; three sons, Joseph J. Cefalu, Jr. and wife Barbara of Baton Rouge, William A. Cefalu, Sr. and wife Anne, of Morgan City, and Kenneth C. Cefalu and wife, Anna, of Lafayette and special family friends Carla and Lenny Dartez of Morgan City. Other survivors include two sisters, Ruth L. Horn and husband, Dan and Francis L. Greenfield and husband, Ed; 27 grandchildren, Brian J. Blanchard, Mary Ella D. Testa, Brett P. Blanchard, Catherine G. David, Johnette D. Rosenbalm, Tanya C. Pritchard, David L. Duplantis, Jr., Elizabeth G. Barron, Deborah B. Garber, Jolynn C. Sloane, Angela D. Deroche, Charles L. Gowland, Jr., Joanna G. Marx, Jennifer T. Olivier, Mary M. Sliman, Erica C. Nobles, Melanie M. Bienvenu, M.D., Natalie C. Gonzalez, Bobbie J. Case, William A. Cefalu, Jr., M.D., M. Joseph Montgomery, Alana C. Aucoin, William J. Montgomery, Joseph J. Cefalu, III, Elizabeth M. Cefalu, Emily A. Cefalu, and Helena C. Cefalu, 36 great-grandchildrern, and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her husband, Joseph J. Cefalu, Sr., a daughter Joan Annette Cefalu, her parents William and Mary B. Lussan, her brothers, William and Thomas Lussan, sisters Helena L. Pecoraro and Esther Lussan, and grandchildren Brandon J. Terry and Elizabeth G. Montgomery. Pallbearers will be her eight grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are Lenny Dartez, Michael H. Montgomery, M.D., Charles L. Gowland, Gerald J. Blanchard, and Dwayne David. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Twin City Funeral home in Morgan City with a rosary at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will resume at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with burial in Morgan City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Maintenance Fund, P.O. Box 632, Morgan City, LA 70381 or the Mary Lussan Cefalu Scholarship Fund at Holy Cross Elementary School, 2100 Cedar Street, Morgan City, LA 70380 or to Come, Lord Jesus!, 1804 West University, Lafayette, LA 70506. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City.