Zeline Coco

Zeline Durham Coco passed away peacefully at her home on October 4, 2024, surrounded by those she loved. 

There will be a wake on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The wake will resume on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service.

 A Funeral Mass will be offered at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Moreauville on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. with Fr. Brian Seiler officiating. 

Entombment in the Sacred Heart Mausoleum.

Zeline Durham Coco was born in New Orleans to William W. Durham from Clinton, LA, and Velma Gauthier Durham from Moreauville, LA and was an only child. She attended Ursaline Academy, enjoyed riding lessons, piano lessons, and playing with her friends in Uptown New Orleans. While she was in the Seventh Grade, her father died.

After her grammar school graduation, Zeline and her mother moved to Moreauville to be closer to family. She enrolled at Moreauville High School, continued piano lessons, rode horses with her friends, and had a typical, fun teenage life. The Attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent beginning of World War II occurred while she was still in high school. The American patriotism and sense national sacrifice that was part of everyday life at this time greatly influenced her life.

After graduation from Moreauville High, Zeline attended SLI, which is now University of Louisiana – Lafayette and pursued a degree in Sociology. The war ended while she was in college, and her “best beau”, L. B. Coco, returned from service and also went to SLI. Shortly after his enrollment, they became engaged and then married. 

After L. B.’s graduation, they moved back home to Moreauville. While L. B. worked hard outside of the house to provide for his family, Zeline dedicated her time, talents and love to make it a wonderful place for him to return to each day. Their home eventually became a great space where they raised their three children with love and many life lessons.

Zeline was a founding member of The Moreauville Garden Club, was a member of the Sacred Heart Church Altar Society, was a member of the Sacred Heart School Parents’ Club, a room mother, and a member of the Moreauville Civic Club Auxiliary. This is the group that planted and nurtured the alternating oak and magnolia trees along Bayou des Glaises that have become an iconic part of our village. 

Zeline was the mother of Louis Coco, Jr. and his wife Charlene, William Coco, and Mary Coco Nuss and her husband Bryan. She was the proud grandmother of Amy Coco, Louis Coco, III, and John Coco & his wife Loryn, Robert Nuss & his wife Megan, and Christopher Nuss, and Robert, Roary, & Roddie Rabalais. She was great-grandmother to Daniel, Ryan, & Cal Coco, Bryan, James, & William Nuss, Morgan Coco, Logan Cruz, and Cody, Lacee, Bailey, Nick & Mia Rabalais.

She was preceded in death by her husband Louis B. (L.B.) Coco, her parents William & Velma Durham, her parents-in-law Alphonse (Bienk) & Rowena Coco, and her brother-& sister-in-law Herbert and Marilyn Coco.

Zeline was the center and heart of her family who cherished each day spent with her. Even when infirmities made it hard for her to physically help her children, she busied herself praying for each of them and visiting by telephone, ready to help with advice or just a caring ear to listen to daily trials.

Honored to be Pall Bearers will be Louis Coco, III, John Coco, Robert Nuss, Christopher Nuss, Daniel Coco, Ryan Coco, Cal Coco, and Al Coco. Lector's will be Amy Coco and Aloysia Coco Ducote. Gift Bearers will be Nelda Sanders and Jill Jeansonne.

Funeral services are under the direction of Escude Funeral Home.