Yanira Arely Duarte

Yanira Arely Duarte, 36, of Lake Charles died at 6:00 AM on Friday, December 6, 2013 in her residence. Yanira was born on June 1, 1977 in El Salvador. She was a graduate of LaGrange High School and was employed at Tony's Pizza for eighteen years. She will be known as a loving and dedicated mother and will be missed. Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, Aletheia Celestine of Eunice, Sidney Antonio Duarte and Jada Nevaeh Duarte Ballard both of Lake Charles; her mother, Francisca Schmidt of Lake Charles; a sister, Guadeloupe Cormier and husband Preston of Lake Charles; and a brother, Raphael Sandro Duarte Lumus of Central America. She is also survived by her fiancé, Theodore Thomas and the father of her two youngest children, James R. Ballard, Jr. She was preceded in death by her step father, Sidney Schmidt, Jr. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, December 14, 2013 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the start of the service.