Yesterday, we laid to rest the Matriarch of our family, Kelly's great grandmother - my grandmother, Helen Reulet Gravois. Father Michael made the funeral service so absolutely beautiful, and my Uncle Colin gave a brief (well, it was supposed to be brief-ha ha) talk of some of the highlights of her long life. The obituary below give only a glimpse into the extraordinary person that she was.
She will be missed...................
'till we meet again, Memere - We Love You
Helen Eugenie Reulet Gravois
Helen Eugenie Reulet Gravois, a noted local historian and linguist, died of natural causes on May 29, 2009 at the age of 93. She was a native and life-long resident of Vacherie.
She was considered by many to be the person to go to as far as local historical events and family histories were concerned. She possessed an extraordinary memory and very much enjoyed relaying information and telling stories from the past. Both friends and strangers, who would soon become her friends, would call on her for tidbits of detailed information. She once had her picture in the New York Times for an article on Vacherie. Genealogists from throughout the area often visited with her to obtain hard-to-find information.
Mrs. Helen had outstanding linguistic abilities, both in English and in French. For several decades, her weekly column Le Coin Francais (The French Corner) was enjoyed by readers of The Enterprise and The News-Examiner. In her column, she gave English translations of commonly used French words and sayings. She was often called upon for the correct spelling, definition and usage of particular French words and phrases. She periodically wrote articles for the local papers on growing up in Vacherie and the days gone by.
She was a believer and promoter to her family and others of the value of education. A 1932 graduate of St. James High School, she went to college beginning in 1960, 28 years after finishing high school (and after marrying and raising her family). She obtained a degree in education from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux at the tender age of 49, and graduated on the same day as her older son, Colin. She went on to have a distinguished career as an elementary school librarian before retiring and enjoying a happy retirement with her husband until his death. She enjoyed reading, writing and traveling, especially to visit her son Colin and his family in Paris, and her Reulet cousins in southern France. She went to France and Europe 15 times in the past 37 years, the last time just a few years before her death.
As a result of her services to and involvement in the community, Mrs. Helen was the recipient of the 1998 “Good Citizen of the Year” award presented by The Enterprise.
She was married for 61 years to the late Jean Paul Gravois who died in 2001. She was the beloved mother of Lael Gravois Zeringue and husband Roy Zeringue and of Jude Gravois and wife Sonia Steib Gravois of Vacherie; of Mary Gravois Bode and husband Albert Bode and of Margaret Gravois Perret of Metairie; and of Colin Gravois and wife Hamida S. Gravois of Antony, France, near Paris. She was preceded in death by two infant children, Jean Paul Gravois, Jr. and Judith Ann Gravois.
She was the grandmother of Veronica Zeringue Granier, Patricia Zeringue Becnel, Linda Zeringue Hubbell, Joanna Zeringue Falgoust and Helen Zeringue Martinez of Vacherie, Hana Gravois of Antony, France, Kenza Gravois of Mexico City, Alison Bode Bourgeois of Richardson, Texas, David Bode of Metairie, Cindy Perret of Clinton, Jonathan Perret of Edgard, Joshua Gravois of Thibodaux, and Abigail Gravois of New Orleans. She was also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Bonnie Granier Matassa, Aimee, Kelly and Clay Granier, Crystal Becnel Crosby, Amanda Delatte, Roy and Christine Falgoust, Alicia Perret, Reese Martinez and Ryan John “Jack” Bourgeois; and one great-great grandchild: James “Jay” Matassa, Jr.
She was the daughter of the late J. Victor Reulet and Helen Poirier Reulet. She was survived by brothers Woodrow Reulet of Bush, John Reulet of Baton Rouge, and Lewis Reulet of Gonzales, and sisters Florence Reulet Gravois and Marjorie Reulet Granier of Vacherie, Bernice Reulet Goley of Pensacola, and Janice Reulet Daigle of Reserve. She was preceded in death by brothers, Victor, Raymond and Earl Reulet, and sisters, Rosemary Reulet Steib and Mae Reulet Gravois.
Visitation will be at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Vacherie, Louisiana, on Saturday, June 6, 2009, from 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., followed by a mass of Christian burial at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. Interment will be at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery.
Ourso Funeral Home of Donaldsonville is in charge of arrangements.
