NICOLE LYNN SOILEAU

It is with the heaviest of hearts and greatest sadness that the family of Nicole Lynn Soileau, 47, announces her passing on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at her residence in Lafayette, surrounded by her loving family.
A Memorial Mass will be held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette today, June 17, 2021, at 10 a.m. and will be officiated by Rev. Fr. Chester Arceneaux, pastor of Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Rev. Fr. Tom Voorhies, of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Ville Platte, will serve as concelebrant.
Visitation was observed at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitation will resume today, June 17, 2021, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette from 8 a.m. until the time of service.
A rosary was recited at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. by Catholic Daughters Court Immaculata #503, followed by eulogy deliveries from Robin Hebert, Becky Salassi, and Ashley Brinkhaus.
Interment will follow at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Cemetery in Lafayette. After interment, a reception will follow at the Cathedral’s church hall.
Fountain Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A longtime resident of Lafayette, Nicole, affectionately known as “Nikki,” lived a life of service to her Church and community. After graduating from Bayou Chicot High School in 1992, she attended the LA Center for the Blind in Ruston and began her independent life as a blind person. While there, Nikki made several trips to Washington, D.C. and lobbied for blind legislation. Upon completion of her training at the Ruston Center, Nikki relocated to Lafayette and was the first resident of Affiliated Blind of LA in Lafayette, where she further sharpened her blind skills and increased her confidence. From there, she attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, USL, and attained a bachelor of science degree in child and family studies.
Through her association with Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church on the USL campus, Nikki’s love for service blossomed. She went on several mission trips to Mexico and a pilgrimage to Italy, where she had a private audience with Pope John Paul II. Nikki volunteered at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Lafayette for seven years and helped feed the hungry in downtown Lafayette for numerous years. Nikki served as president of the Acadiana Chapter of ABL and as secretary of the State Board of American Counsel of the Blind.
Nikki loved to travel, and, throughout the years, she and her mother traveled to World Youth Day in Australia and New Zealand, Disney World, Dollywood, Reno, Nevada, and Branson, Missouri, to name a few. She was a member of the Refiner’s Fire Theresian Community for over 10 years. Like St. Therese, Nikki brought joy to all through her “Little Way.” She inspired others with her fearless faith, generous love and the way she accepted her circumstances with grace and humor and without complaint.
Nikki remained very active and involved within her Church community. She attended an ACTS Retreat and went on to team the next one. She was also a member of Catholic Daughters Court Immaculata #503.
Nicole will be sorely missed by those she leaves behind. She is survived by her mother, Fannie Carroll Soileau, of Ville Platte; her brother, Joseph Soileau, of Sulphur; her nieces and nephews, Skylar and Trystan Soileau, of Bridge City, Texas, and Graecyn, Christian, and Meiliani Soileau, of Sulphur; her uncle, Glenn Carroll and his wife, Mary, of Woodworth; and aunts, JoAlice and Delores Soileau, both of Ville Platte, and Mary Soileau, of Vinton; her stepmother, Brenda Soileau; and her stepsister, Erica Fontenot, both of Ville Platte; her step-niece, Kaylie Herrington, also of Ville Platte, and countless dear cousins and friends.
She is preceded in death by her father, Harold Paul Soileau and her brother, Scott Keith Soileau.
The family wishes to thank the staff and doctors of Ochsner Lafayette General Hospital for the compassionate care given to Nicole, Heart of Hospice in Lafayette for a speedy return home and the Refiner’s Fire Theresians for their tremendous help and generosity.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Nicole Soileau’s name to Affiliated Blind of Louisiana, www.affiliatedblind.org.
Online obituary and guest book may be viewed at www.fountainmemorialfuneralhome.com.