Betty Jane Lejeune Timpa

Betty Jane LeJeune Timpa passed to her heavenly home on April 8, 2016, surrounded by her beloved family.

She was born on January 13, 1933 in Lake Arthur to Clarence and Ozeit LeBlanc LeJeune. Betty lived a life as a servant to Christ. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, and caring daughter, sibling, grandmother and great grandmother.

Betty began serving Christ as the eldest of 10 children who helped her parents care for her siblings until she was asked to share her love and live with her widowed grandmother in Jennings, LA. It is during this time she met the love of her life, “Nicki”, with whom she shared 52 wonderful years with before his death. She continued to be a faithful servant to her husband and mother to her six children showing them unconditional love, and the role of a devoted servant, no matter the call. Her family devotion was seen with the many birds she would clean for Nick to give away, sewing the special dresses for the girls no matter the event, rising at 4 in the morning to make sure the boys were dressed warm and fed before making a hunt with their dad, or the many favorite meals prepared for the family, friends or newcomers. She always had their home open to others, no matter the occasion or the need.

Her children are blessed with the memories learning about God’s word through their special family traditions such as making the symbols for the Jessie tree to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth, or crowning Mary each week during the month of May with a crown made by the children, or preparing a table at the end of the hall with a small cloth covering, a candle, and a crucifix for prayer time for special liturgical seasons, or making costumes for the younger kids and their neighborhood friends to perform a “Christmas” play about Christ’s birth. Betty embraced with much love and open arms her opportunities to be with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Betty was a member of St. Margaret Catholic Church since 1951 and continued the work of the Lord through the Religious Education Ministry which she began in 1977. She received her Master Certification of Religious Studies from Holy Cross College in New Orleans, LA. She retired as co-director of Religious Education in June, 2009 from St. Margaret Parish. She was a member of the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters for 35 years, a Eucharistic Minister and was instrumental in developing the local St. Vincent DePaul Ministries.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Nicola Timpa; son-in-law, Charles Barker; granddaughter, Jennifer Montgomery; parents, Clarence and Ozeit LeBlanc LeJeune; brothers Clarence “Richard” LeJeune, James LeJeune, Robert LeJeune, Donald LeJeune, and Rodney LeJeune; and sisters, Lillie Donner and Virgie Blassingame.

Those left to carry on her loving spirit are her six children, Sue Thrash (Terry), Jamestown, LA; Mary Montgomery (Mark), Commerce, GA; Richard Timpa (Mona), Lake Charles; Ruth Barker, Lake Charles; Elizabeth McCullor (Doug), Moss Bluff; and Joseph Timpa (Karren), Pendergrass, GA; thirteen grandchildren, Jason Fontenot (Theresa), Tara (Joe) Reed, Michael Timpa, David Montgomery, John Montgomery, Luke (Rebekah) Montgomery, Andrew (Amy) Montgomery, Amanda Barker, Stephanie McCullor, Jennifer McCullor, Megan McCullor, Brok Timpa and Farrah (Colin) Lasley; eleven great grandchildren, Kale Grace Montgomery, Karleigh Ann Montgomery, Kamen Montgomery, Lane Montgomery, Ashlynn Fontenot, Brelynn Fontenot, Britton Reed, Kasey Reed, Ellen Gaharn, Dehlia Trainer, and Carleigh Lasley; sister, Dana Turnage (Charles); brothers, Arthur LeJeune (Gail); brother-in-law, Hubert Timpa (Louise) as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.

Visitation will be from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM today, Sunday April 10, 2016 at Johnson Funeral Home. A Rosary will be recited at 4:30 PM by the Catholic Daughters of St Margaret Parish, followed by a Scripture Service at 5:00 PM led by Monsignor Jace Eskind. Visitation will resume on Monday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM at the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be observed at 1:00 PM at St. Margaret Catholic Church with Monsignor Harry Greig serving as the celebrant. Burial, alongside her beloved Nick, will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Terry Thrash, Michael Timpa, Jason Fontenot, Dwayne Timpa, Johnny Timpa, and Mark Johnson.

Betty had such loving caregivers through her time of sickness. Her children would like to thank all who were a part of the journey. She was blessed to have special hospice care provided by her granddaughter, Teresa Fontenot.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.