Donald Lewis "D.L." Vidrine

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Thursday, October 21, 2021, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Washington for Donald Lewis "D.L." Vidrine, who was called home to the Lord on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at his home. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 8:00am until the time of services and requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in D.L.'s name for masses at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, to Sacred Heart School in Ville Platte, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Father Matthew Higginbotham will officiate the funeral mass. Interment will follow in the Evangeline Memorial Cemetery Veterans Section to honor his service in the United States Army during World War II. Pallbearers will be Roger Ledoux, Stearns LaSeur, Nathan Hickman, John Clyde Deville, Jason Vidrine, and Wesley Deville. D. L. was a champion of education, and it was a major part of his life. He was a teacher and principal primarily at Washington High School for many years and also the head coach of the Washington High Lady Lions basketball team. After his retirement from the St. Landry Parish School System, he accepted a position as a teacher and was later principal at his alma mater Sacred Heart School (elementary) in Ville Platte. Among his favorite career memories were the numerous championship basketball games he coached… and won. His ability to always remember his players' names, who scored the winning shots, what the fans were cheering in the stands, and the final scores was incredible! He always enjoyed tending his garden and keeping his yard beautifully blooming. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family and friends. He enjoyed praying the rosary with his wife Anita on their patio and attending mass at Immaculate Conception where he was a faithful parishioner for decades and member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the American Legion. He also was a member of the St. Landry Parish Waste Management Board and served for a time as its president. Before his passing, D.L. expressed his sincere gratitude to all his family members and friends that have helped care for him these past few years. The Vidrine family sincerely thanks Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care for their wonderful care of D.L. during his final days. D.L. will be missed by his wife of 70 years, Anita Matt Vidrine; his children Margaret Vidrine Gillard, Yvonne Vidrine Fisco, Kathleen Vidrine LaSeur (Stearns), and Michael Vidrine (Jamie); grandchildren Heather Gillard, Stefanie Fisco (Evan), Stearns LaSeur, IV (Laura), Ali Vidrine Deville (John), Jason Vidrine (Lauren), Michelle Fisco (Johnny), and Christopher LaSeur (Emily); great grandchildren Wesley Deville, Rose Fisco, Harvey LaSeur, Rhett Deville, Juna Kongos, and Ruby Vidrine; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and life-long friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Louis Vidrine and Aminthe Fontenot Vidrine; his brothers Octave, Atale, Aclide, Rene', Onise, and Daly Vidrine; his sisters Germaine Vidrine Fontenot, Irene Vidrine Fontenot, Wanice Vidrine, and Prudence Vidrine; and his son-in-law John Fisco. Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas, 4708 I-49 North Service Road, (337) 407-1907, is in charge of arrangements.