Elia Cantu Setnicky

Graveside services celebrating the life of Elia Setnicky will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026 at Greenwood Memorial Park in Pineville beginning at 12:30 PM with Father Dale Meade officiating. Internment is under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home of Ball, Louisiana.

Ms. Setnicky is preceded in death by her parents, Otilla and Thomas Cantu; brothers, Robert, Rod, Tommy, and Frank.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, John Setnicky; daughter, Deborah Tabor, and husband, William III; siblings, Johnny, David, Elidia, Elivia, Billy Jean, and Christy. She is also survived by grandchildren, William IV and wife Meghan, Amanda and husband Corey, and Michael; great grandchildren, Charlotte, Henry, Palmer, Carter, and Saylor.

Elia was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend whose life was defined by love, creativity, faith, and devotion to others. She spent much of her life caring for those around her, including her many siblings, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and even God's smallest creatures. Whether nurturing her family or rescuing an abandoned baby bird or squirrel, Elia's heart was always open.

Her faith was an important and guiding part of her life. She previously served as president of the St. Nicholas Society at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where she devoted countless hours to serving her parish community. Her service reflected the deep and steady faith that shaped the way she lived and loved.

In her younger years, Elia worked in cosmetology, a profession well suited to her artistic spirit and love of helping others feel beautiful. Largely self-taught in many of her creative talents, she became an accomplished painter and sketch artist. Her artwork proudly hangs in the homes of her family as treasured reminders of her creativity and love. When she was not creating, she could often be found tending to her beloved plants, taking brisk walks, horseback riding, or fishing with those she loved.

There was nothing Elia cherished more than a baby. Affectionately known as "Maw Maw," a title she wore with pride, she found her greatest joy in being a grandmother and great-grandmother. She inspired her grandchildren to appreciate the beauty of nature, to explore art, and to gather in the kitchen to cook and create together. She had a remarkable gift for seeing God's beauty in the natural world and encouraging others to see it too.

Elia was also a fashionista at heart, always arriving at gatherings dressed in her most fabulous outfit. She loved to dance and brought joy and energy wherever she went.

Elia's legacy lives on in the love she gave so freely, the beauty she created, and the family she cherished above all else. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.