The Life of Esther Lou Newton
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 10:00 am at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Lafayette, Louisiana for Esther Lou Doucet Newton, 88, who passed away peacefully surrounded by her family, on Tuesday, August 12, 2008, at her residence in Lafayette. Interment will be at Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery in Lafayette. The Reverend Michael Delcambre will be the Celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the burial services. Musical selections, scripture readings and offertory gifts will be presented by Mrs. Newton''s nieces and nephews, including her Godchildren, Pam Domingue, Esther Trahan and Dr. Tommy Leger. Mrs. Newton was born on February 28, 1920, in Iota, Louisiana, to Alphonse Noel Doucet and Ozea Seilhan Doucet. She received a Nursing degree from Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. During this time she met her future husband, Ellis Newton, a native of Coquille, Oregon, who was serving in the military in the Alexandria area. Following their marriage, Esther and Ellis moved to Oregon where she worked for many years in the Portland Hospital. Before retiring, she spent several years providing care to individuals with handicaps at the Fairview Training Center near Salem, Oregon. She had a special affection for children with Down''s syndrome. In 1978 Esther and Ellis moved to Lafayette where they enjoyed many family gatherings together until Ellis'' death in 1993 after 50 years of marriage. Although Mrs. Newton had no biological children of her own, she was a well loved aunt to fourteen nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. An especially devoted niece, Miki Camel, was her "adopted" daughter, who provided companionship and assistance until her death. Aunt Esther was the family confidante and enjoyed sharing a meal and a good cup of coffee. She will be remembered for visiting into the wee hours of the night and sleeping late in the morning. She enjoyed reading and watching sports on television, and her favorite food group was "chocolate". Mrs. Newton is survived by two sisters, Mildred Doucet Stroderd and husband, Wilbert of Lafayette and Margaret Doucet Leger and husband, Claude of Jennings; a sister-in-law, Rena Delafosse Doucet of Eunice. Her nieces and nephews include, Connie Stroderd Guillory of Houston, Pamela Stroderd Domingue of Abbeville, Patricia Stroderd Hebert, Ellen Stroderd Wills, Michela Stroderd Camel and Paul Stroderd of Lafayette; Esther Breaux Trahan of Crowley, Lavona Huesers Taylor, Molly Huesers Benoit, Stephen Huesers and Elizabeth Huesers Tate of Lake Charles, Dr. Thomas Leger of Jennings, Deborah Leger Boudreaux of Lake Charles and Mark Doucet of Eunice. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Newton was preceded in death by a brother, A.N. "Buddy" Doucet; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Sylvia D. and Floyd Huesers and Anna Lou D. and Harry Breaux; and one infant sister, Cecile Doucet. Pallbearers will be Dr. Thomas Leger, Paul Stroderd, Stephen Huesers, Larry Trahan, Wayne Wills and Josh Camel. Honorary pallbearers will be Wilbert Stroderd and Claude Leger. Family and friends are invited to gather at St. Pius X Church at 8:30am. A rosary will be recited at 9:00am followed by the funeral Mass at 10:00am. The family would like to acknowledge the care provided by Southern Care Hospice and Comp-U-Care especially the love and compassion shown by Betty Chavis, Nancy Broussard and Debra Reed. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Newton''s name to The Women''s Center of Lafayette, 1018 Harding Street Suite 102, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503 or Southern Care Hospice, 109 Abigayles Road, Scott, Louisiana
Martin & Castille - Lafayette, 337-234-2311
