Viola Chantlin

Viola LaVergne Chantlin, 83, of Moss Bluff died at 9:00 AM Tuesday, December 31, at her residence, surrounded by her family and friends. Mrs. Chantlin was born in Church Point on September 14, 1930 to Elice and Virgie Standberry LaVergne. She married the love of her life Clarence Chantlin and on December 8 of this year they celebrated sixty-five years of marriage. Next to the love of her husband, children, grandchildren and her family and friends, Viola's love was the work in her church. She was involved in a multitude of organizations in the Catholic Church. She was director for several years of the Cursillo movement, the Ladies Auxiliary at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic, and the Ladies Altar Society of St. Theodore Catholic Church. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Theodore Catholic Church. For her devotion to the Catholic Church Bishop Jude Speyer awarded Mrs. Chantlin the Champion Medal of Honor. Viola was always there for her family, raising her eleven children and her children's friends and extended family. In spite of her work in the home she enjoyed her hobbies as a professional canner, winning a First Place, Blue Ribbon, from McNeese State University. Her additional hobbies included gardening, tending her house plants, and reading. She leaves to cherish her memories her most devoted husband Clarence Chantlin; five daughters, Patrinella Chantlin-Johnson, Diana Chantlin Davis, Ida Chantlin Griffith, Clara (Ralph) Guillory and Christina (John) Spikes; six sons, Gilbert (Jerri) Chantlin of Highland, TX, Jude Chantlin, Gerald Chantlin (departed), Gregory (Leisa) Chantlin, Felix Chantlin and Theodore (Cynthia) Chantlin, all of Lake Charles. Viola shared all her love to twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She also leaves to cherish her memories one brother, Carlton LaVergne of Moss Bluff; two sisters, Catherine Jules of Torrance, CA and Emma (Alvin) Woods of Norfolk, VA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; a sister-in-law Irma LaVergne of Houston, TX; and adopted daughters Delores Spikes, Eula Mae Hanchett, Shirley Green, Cheryle Riley, Dola Sam, Martha Bass Wood and Peggy Guillory. She was preceded in death by her parents Elice and Vergie Standberry LaVergne; two brothers, Hilman LaVergne and Michael William LaVergne; and one sister, Geneva Lyons. Funeral services will be Monday, January 6, 2014 at 11:00 AM in St. Theodore Catholic Church in Moss Bluff. Visitation will be Sunday, January 5, 2014 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM in Johnson Funeral Home Chapel with a Rosary at 6:30 PM. Visitation will resume at St. Theodore Catholic Church on Monday from 9:00 AM until the time of service. Monsignor Charles Dubois will officiate. Interment will follow the service at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Lake Charles.