Betty “Nannie” DeMarsais Dearbonne, 72, of Fannett, died Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at Christus St. Mary Hospital in Port Arthur.
A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, she lived in the Port Arthur/Groves area since 1946 and then moved to Kirbyville in 1985. She resided in Fannett for the past two years. In 1985 she retired to Kirbyville with her husband. She joined Our Lady of LaSalette Catholic Church (Ronald Foshage, M.S.), where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector. In the Altar Society she created Banners for different seasons of the church, and through their Benevolence outreach she often visited the sick and home bound to serve communion. She was very involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, became a RENEW leader and often hosted prayer groups and Bible study groups in her home. She was most proud when in her 60’s she studied and achieved a GED certificate. Her greatest spiritual gift of energetic serving was accomplished in being a great friend and family caretaker-a great cook and devoted mother and wife.
Survivors include her husband, Thomas Dearbonne of Fannett; her daughter, Shari Aline DeMarsais of Houston; her sisters, Ann Cotter of Port Arthur and Ruth Zampini of Groves; her brother, Norman PreJean of Orange; her step-sons, Jerry Dearbonne of Houston and George Dearbonne of Fannett; her step-daughters, Janell Dearbonne Hardy of Mauriceville and Ida Dearbonne Brevell of Nederland; nine step-grandchildren; twelve step-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Saturday, February 5, 2005 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Fannett under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin, Beaumont. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Nederland.
Betty will be in state beginning at 8:00 A.M. Friday morning February 4, 2005 with a gathering of family and friends from
5:00 until 7:00 P.M. and a rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 7015, Beaumont, Texas 77726 or to charity of choice.
