Juanita Deshotels

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 10:00 am at St. Elizabeth Seton Church for Juanita "Nita" Deshotels, 79, who passed away September 3, 2021. Fr. Harold Trahan will be the celebrant of the mass and conduct the funeral services. It is the policy of the Diocese of Lafayette to strongly encourage everyone to wear a mask in church when attending services such as funerals. Andre Savoie,Taylor Deshotels, and Ellie Shelton will be the lectors; gift bearers will be Danielle Hellickson, Julianna Deshotels, and Renee Shelton. Interment will follow the mass in Lafayette Memorial Park.
Visitation will be held at Walters Funeral Home on Friday, September 10, 2021 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm, and resume Saturday morning at 8:00 - 9:30 am. A rosary will be prayed Friday evening at 6:00 pm at Walters Funeral Home.
Juanita Faye Deshotel was born in Mamou, La, the daughter of Gladys (Savant) Deshotel (deceased) and Armogene Deshotel (deceased). She graduated from Mamou High School and SLI (presently ULL) with a Bachelor's Degree in Home Economics.
Nita was a founding member of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish. She was a member of the Parish Worship Commission for decades, and created spaces for spiritual welcome and reflection that reflected her view of a loving Creator. Juanita was active in the church; she raised her children in the faith and participated as a Eucharistic Minister, Minister of Welcome, rosary and prayer groups, RCIA, and a was founding member of the Seton Pearls. She freely shared her sewing skills with the Parish, making banners and vestments and beautifying the church through the seasons. She was also a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, which focused on developing her spiritual life in accordance to the gospels.
Nita loved family, and recognized that we live our lives in the families we are born into, and those that we create through our friendships. She was a force of love and for love, wanting those around her to know that they were blessed by a generous God who had a special connection to each of them. She enjoyed art, sewing and making jewelry, all of which she shared with friends and family.
She devoted many years to teaching, from third grade at St. Leo to preschool, to spending her final 27 years as a teacher in the Adult Education program. Her knack for encouraging others, especially those who needed encouragement, really shone in that environment. She contributed to professional organizations by holding state office for the Adult Education Program, and was even recognized as Teacher of the Year. Her relationships with her fellow teachers blessed and enriched her life.
She was a graduate of Mamou High School and continued to value her friendships she made there, including her husband of 38 years, Ferrill, until his death. Juanita found many ways to share her creative gifts, including oil and watercolor paintings, sewing most of her children's clothes as they grew up, and blessing her granddaughters with a bounty of beautiful dresses, as well as embroidery and floral arrangements.
Juanita is survived by her children, Christina Deshotels Shelton (Chris Shelton), Steve (Angela Deshotels), Sara (Marty) Hellickson and Patrick Deshotels; her brother Tim (Amy) Deshotel (children Jose, Javier, and Seyda); her grandchildren Andre Hellickson Savoie, Taylor Deshotels, Brandon Deshotels, Noah Nelson, Danielle Hellickson, Elizabeth Shelton, Julianna Deshotels, Christopher Shelton, Ben Deshotels, Renee Shelton; and one great-grandchild on the way.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Ferrill Deshotels, and her sister, Berna Deshotel (Jay).

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