Shirley Smith Dugas

1926 - 2014

Shirley Smith Dugas

LAFAYETTE - Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at a 1:30 PM Mass of Christian Burial in St. Jules Catholic Church in Lafayette for Shirley Smith Dugas, 87, who died peacefully on Sunday, January 26, 2014, surrounded by family, on the anniversary of the death of the love of her life, Robert M. Dugas, Sr.

Entombment will be in Calvary Mausoleum in Lafayette.

The Very Reverend W. Curtis Mallet, JCL, VG,will be the Celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Lectors will be Barbara Louise Davidson and Delanie Dugas. Giftbearers will be Allison Landry and Abbigail Davidson. Sarah Bannon and Kate Bannon, vocalists, accompanied on the organ by Brian Sanford, will sing for the services, "Amazing Grace," "Shepherd Me O God," "Ave Maria," "Panis Angelicus," "Here I Am Lord," and "Be Not Afraid."

She is survived by her six children, Robert M. Dugas, Jr. and wife Christine Snell Dugas, Eunice Dugas Bannon and husband Michael, Christine Dugas Landry, Edward Dugas and wife Elena Begnaud Dugas, Bill Dugas and wife Anne Brabant Dugas and Mary George Dugas; one brother, George Smith; her ten grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, especially Lyall and Celeste Scott.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Millard Dugas, Sr.; her parents, Edward and Lena Smith; and nine brothers and sisters.

Mrs. Dugas was a native of Vacherie, Louisiana and graduated from St. James High School in 1943. She went on to graduate from SLI, now ULL, in 1947 with a major in chemistry. While at SLI, she was a member of the Tri-Sigma sorority and the Red Jackets. Upon graduation she worked at Southern Alkali in Lake Charles, Louisiana. While working in Lake Charles she was in the stage production of "The Great Big Doorstep." She enjoyed watching ULL football, horticulture, playing scrabble, fishing with her family and spending time at home raising her six children and supporting their activities. She and her husband instituted the Vocation Chalice at St. Jules, in hopes of encouraging vocations. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Pallbearers will be Mrs. Dugas' grandsons, Todd Dugas, Gerad Dugas, Matthew Bannon, Nicholas Dugas, as well as her great nephews, Joshua Scott, Isaac Scott and Patrick Scott.

A Rosary will be recited on Friday, January 31, 2014 at 6:00 PM in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN Location.

The family requests that visitation be observed on Friday from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM and will continue on Saturday from 10:00 AM until time of services.

The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses and staff of Lafayette General Medical Center 6th floor and 7th floor ICU North , as well as Concepts of Care and Magnolia Home Health for their kindness, compassion and loving care given to Mrs. Dugas during her time of need.

Those wishing to make contributions may be made in Mrs. Dugas' name to Healing House, P.O. Box 3861 Lafayette, LA. 70502, The Discalced Carmelite Sisters, 1250 Carmel Drive Lafayette, LA. 70501, De La Salle Christian Brothers, 1522 Carmel Drive Lafayette, LA. 70501, The Children's Museum of Lafayette, 201 E. Congress St. Lafayette, LA. 70501, The Lafayette Science Museum, 433 Jefferson Street Lafayette, LA. 70501, or to the charity of your choice.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Martin & Castille - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street Lafayette, LA. 70506. 337-234-2311