Grace Savoie

SULPHUR - Grace B. Savoie, 96, a Sulphur resident for over 70 years, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, December 27, 2015 surrounded by her family. Grace, a retired teacher, taught in Cameron and Calcasieu Parish Public Schools and Our Lady's School in Sulphur. She took great pride that many of her descendants were educators like her. She and her late husband, Garfield owned and operated Savoie Frozen Foods in Sulphur for over 30 years. She served the community in many ways and was known to many as "Amazing Grace". She was a member of the Civic Club for the Senior Citizen Center of Sulphur; the Board of Directors of the Brimstone Museum; Board of Directors for Calcasieu Council On Aging; member of The Serra Club; the Church Choir; the Catholic Daughters of America and served as State Regent for 6 years; Altar Society; Young At Heart; Lay Honoree Organization of the Diocese of Lake Charles and had served as President. Grace served on the Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church Decorating Committee for many years; member of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles, LA; Coordinator For Follow Me Program; served as a Sacristan; past Eucharistic Minister and Lector at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church; participated in Generations of Faith at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church; she visited the sick, homebound, and nursing home residents; instructor for RCIA; past chairperson of The Evangelization Ministry in working with the Fallen-Away Catholics and Unchurched; she was the Founder and Coordinator for An Ecumenical Prayer Service with several churches for over 30 years; she coordinated "Meals On Wheels and Food Drive for the elderly in the Sulphur area; tutor for students taking LEAP tests; volunteered for the Sulphur Senior Center; past president of The Companions of Honor; served as President of AARP Chapter # 1983 in Sulphur and was area Coordinator for AARP in the Health Advocacy Program. Grace was a proud graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (Class of 1939) and was a member of University of Louisiana at Lafayette Red Jackets; Delta Kappa Gamma; and Calcasieu Home Economics Teacher's Association and Calcasieu Vocational Teacher's Association. She was recognized by the Holy Father for her work for God and Country and received a Papal Medal- "Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice". Grace received a 2000 Diocesan Distinguished Service Award for Acts of Charity and Evangelization presented by the Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles; she received the Maple Leaf Award for 1998 presented by The Roman Catholic Church for continuous work in retirement years; she was recognized by the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus as Outstanding Citizen for her work for Church and Country; she was 2004 Mardi Gras Queen for Calcasieu Council On Aging; 2001 Cal Cam Fair Parade Marshall; 1999 Louisiana Ageless Heroes Award for community involvement; Volunteer of the Year presented by the Sulphur Mayor's Commission for the Needs of the Handicapped; Family Humanitarian Award for supporting family life and building a stronger community; Walk of Fame Honoree for the Brimstone Historical Society to Honor Sulphur Citizens; the Kiwanis Christmas Parade Marshall for the City of Sulphur; Community Hero presented by United Way of Southwest LA; Citizen of the Year presented by Southwest LA Chamber of Commerce and she served in Washington, D.C. as a Silver Haired Legislator from Louisiana Congressional District VII. Grace and her husband, Garfield had 7 children, Ron Savoie and wife Terry of Guthrie, Oklahoma, Celeste Landry and husband Steve of Carlyss, Judge Kent Savoie and wife Pat of Carlyss, Annette Maneille and husband Michael of Lake Charles, Dr. Joe Savoie and wife Gail of Lafayette, John Savoie and wife Melanie of Carlyss, and Pete Savoie and wife Judy of Choupique. She was also proud of her 25 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren most of whom are local residents. She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Garfield Savoie; her grandchild, Kathy Landry Thibodeaux; her great grandchild, Elie Istre; her parents, Louis and Virginia Boudreaux; 3 sisters, and brother.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Sulphur by Father Edward Richard, M.S. The Bishop Glen John Provost of Lake Charles will officiate the final commendation. Burial will be in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson and Robison Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 from 4-8 P.M. with a rosary at 6:30 P.M.at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church Hall in Sulphur. Visitation will continue on Thursday at 8 A.M. in the church hall until time of the service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Our Lady's School in Sulphur. The family would like to acknowledge her loving caregivers Dina Areno, Rhonda Wright, and Heart of Hospice. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.johnsonrobisonfh.net