Erline Ducote

Funeral services for Erline Marie Ducote of Mansura will be held on Monday, June 16, 2014 beginning at 11am at the St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Mansura with Fr. Irion St. Romain officiating. Visitation will be held in the church beginning at 9am until the time of service. Interment will be held at the St. Paul Mausoleum in Mansura.
Erline Ducote, age 86, passed away on Saturday, June 14, 2014, at the OakMont Estates in Mansura.
She was born in New Orleans on October 24, 1927 she attended Catholic Elementary schools until her family moved to Avoyelles Parish at which time she attended Marksville and Mansura High Schools, graduating CoValedictorian at Mansura High in May 1945. She was subsequently employed at Woodmen of the World Ins. Co. and General Motors Acceptance Corp., Alexandria. It was during this period that she met her future husband, Harris, through a Catholic Youth Organization sponsored by the Cathedral Church Parish. One of their primary missions was to pick up young children from some of the poor Lower Third Street neighborhoods, drive them to Cathechism instructions with nuns from Cathedral Parish, then drive them back home. Erline was working and had a car Harris was attending Alexandria Business College, recently discharged from U.S. Navy, typical low income Veteran without a vehicle. Years later they were married from the same church, The Cathedral, while her husband was recalled to active duty with the Navy. This union lasted over sixtythree years and produced five children.
Erlines husbands career with the Union Pacific Railroad took them to several sales offices throughout the country, retiring in 1984 from RR Headquarters Omaha, Nebraska. During this period, they bore and reared five children. At her death they had been married for sixtythree years. Moving back to Avoyelles Parish, they built their retirement home on family property in Mansura. Erline designed and supervised their new home, being familiar with building designes from previous half dozen homes they owned while moving from one city to another. Her husband continued being involved in Transportation Consultant work as well as Legislative and Congressional Advocacy.
Shortly after their retirement Erline became actively involved in church and local civic projects, serving as Sacrastan and President of St. Pauls Catholic Church as well as active member of MoreauvilleHamburg Garden Club, winning several awards for presentations. At the same time she pursed art classes in oil and acycrilic paiting, with treasured paintings throughout the house.
She suffered a moderate stroke in 1994, partially recovering after therapy, mostly assisted with local home health aides until her debility grew to an extent that she had to be incarcerated in Oakmont Assisted Living Estate in MarksvilleMansura area. During this period, she suffered but successfully recovered from Breast Cancer, proving once again the type of fighter and positivethinking individual she was. Unfortunately, her frail condition recently contributed to an inability to continue her mobility, eat and exercise.
She was a loving and caring mother, with her childrens welfare foremost on her mind. She leaves behind a host of friends and neighbors, all of whom have expressed their grief and sorrow.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hector Clarise Claudel and her brothers, Roger Claudel and Earnest Claudel.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Harris Ducote of Mansura her daughter, Patrice Robinson of Ventress her sons: John Ducote of Mansura, Stephen Ducote of Lafayette, Jeffrey Ducote of Mansura, and Gregory Ducote of Mansura six grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be: John Ducote, Steve Ducote, Greg Ducote, Jeff Ducote, Tim Robinson, Tom Robinson, Jr., Aaron Ducote and crossbearer will be Angela Ducote.

Visitation

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
1879 Leglise St.
Mansura, LA  71350
Monday, June 16, 2014
9am11am

Service

Church

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
1879 Leglise St,
Mansura, LA  71350
Monday, June 16, 2014
11am

Cemetery

St. Paul Cemetery
Old River Rd.
Mansura, LA  71350