Obituaries

WALTER JOSEPH TORTORICH

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered for Walter Joseph Tortorich on Friday, January 5, 2024, at 1 p.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church in St. Landry with Fr. Todd Down officiating. Burial will be at a later date under the direction of Melancon Funeral Home, Bunkie.

WILDA RUTH MANUEL SIMON

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for Wilda Ruth Manuel Simon, 73, who passed away on December 18, 2023. Mrs. Simon, a resident of Duson, was the daughter of the late Ireme P. Manuel Sr. and the former Mable Deshotel.

RUSSELL WAYNE “RUSTY” COLDIRON

VILLE PLATTE - Russell Coldiron, a beloved member of the Ville Platte community, has passed away at the age of 76 in Ville Platte. On December 17, 2023, surrounded by loved ones, Russell Coldiron peacefully departed from this world.

SANDRA DARLENE NACQUIN

MAMOU – It is with great sadness that the family of Sandra Darlene Nacquin announces her passing on Saturday, December 16, 2023 in Opelousas at the age of 59. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Mamou at 2 p.m. Burial followed in the Reed Cemetery.

Obituary

Jesse Noel Ludeau, a strong but gentle Cajun from Ville Platte, ended his 21-month battle with pancreatic cancer on December 15th at the age of 64.

SANDRA ORTEGO VIDRINE

VILLE PLATTE - The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Ville Platte, at 11:30 a.m., for the repose of the soul of Sandra Ortego Vidrine, which was followed by entombment at the Sacred Heart Mausoleum.

ROBERT “BOBBY” BERNARD LANDRENEAU

Robert “Bobby” Landreneau, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on December 7, 2023. Visitation took place at Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Ville Platte on Monday, December 11, 2023, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

JOHN BAQUET

“Let us endeavor to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.” - Mark Twain “I shall not die of a cold, my son. I shall die of having lived.” - Willa Cather  In the early morning of November 25, 2023, John Baquet passed away in his home surrounded by his family in Baton Rouge.

REVEREND GEORGE L. RICHARDSON

Reverend George L. Richardson, a native of Ville Platte, passed away on November 14, 2023. Born on March 13, 1937, to Arcuis Richardson and Catherine Thomas Richardson, he is survived by his wife; two children; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

STEPHEN PAUL HALLAM

Funeral services for Stephen Hallam were held at 12 noon on Thursday, November 16, 2023 in the chapel of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie with Kevin Smith officiating. Mr. Hallam, age 74, of Ville Platte, passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at St. Joseph Hospice in Lafayette.