Rowena Barras Johnson

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 2:00 pm in the Sunrise Chapel at Walters Funeral Home for Rowena Barras Johnson, who passed away on March 9, 2023 surrounded by her family. She was 96 years old.  Her family will remember her always as the very engaged mother, grandmother and great-grandmother that she was. Our Granny was the greatest fan in the stands for all the events of her grands and greats that she could possibly attend. Her long lived life was well spent giving her time to others and she will be cherished for her care of her family.

Rowena was born in Cade, Louisiana and raised most of her life in New Iberia, graduating from NISH and then Hotel Dieu nursing school in New Orleans. Her career in Lafayette included working at Our Lady of Lourdes and Charity Hospital; as well as the office nurse for Dr. Wilfred Dolan. After her retirement she enjoyed her family and all of their activities. She particularly loved line dancing, and participated for 25 years at the senior centers until she was 90+ years of age.

Granny loved quilting. By our estimate she has sewn more than 200 quilts for her grands and greats, leaving a wonderful legacy for them to remember their grandmother and the love she always had for them.

Rowena is survived by her four children, Robert (Jerry) Johnson and wife Mona, Margaret (Peggy) Stout, Barry Johnson and wife Kit, and Kerry Roberts and husband Charlie; ten grandchildren, Amy Atkinson (Timmy), Chuck Stout (April), Jennifer Macha (Brad), Mark Johnson (Megan), Kieffer Petree (Carson), Elizabeth Zito (Chris), Alice Harpole (Jami), Ben Johnson (Caroline), Jeanne Parent (Guy), Andree Seaux (Justin), and step grandson, Justin Roberts; and twenty-eight great-grandchildren who knew her very well. She is also survived by a very special niece, Beth Stafford, who cared so very much for Granny in her life and in her last three difficult months, as well as other nieces, Cathy Jackson and Ellen Garacci; and one nephew, Michael Viator.

Rowena was preceded in death by her husband, Bob F. Johnson; a son in law, Charles E. Stout;  her mother, Alma Fremin Barras; her father, Joseph A. Barras; her sister, Mercedes Viator; and a great-grandson, Joseph Parent.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm, and resume Monday morning at 10:00 am until time of service. A rosary will be prayed at 6:30 pm on Sunday.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Charles Stout, Mark Johnson, Ben Johnson, Charles Roberts, Charles Stafford and Guy Parent. Honorary pallbearers are Justin Roberts, Cole Stout, Riley Stout, Carter Macha, Noah Macha, Brennan Parent, William Zito, Jackson Petree, Jack Seaux, Grant Atkinson, Austin Roberts, Parker Roberts and Cooper Roberts.

Many thanks are extended to her primary caregiver these last three months, Breneisha Leopaul, who showed kindness and compassion while attending to Rowena.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Acadiana or the Carmelite Monastery at 1250 Carmel Dr., Lafayette, LA 70501.

Condolences messages can be left for the family by scrolling to the Guestbook below.