Vira Ella Toni Lafleur

Vira Ella Toney LaFleur quietly passed away in her home surrounded by her loved ones on Thursday, May 16. She was known as Toni to her friends, MawMaw to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and Aunt Tootsie to her nieces and nephews. She was 84.

Mrs. LaFleur was a retired hairdresser and homemaker. She was born in Leesville on December 30, 1928 and graduated from Leesville High School. After working briefly in Mobile, Alabama, she moved to this area and began working for the telephone company. She met and married Emile Joseph LaFleur in 1949, and they remained married until he passed away in 1998. Their marriage produced three daughters: Marci LaFleur Moss, who passed away in 2011, Melinda LaFleur (J. Michael) Veron, and Melanie Elizabeth LaFleur, who died at birth.

Toni LaFleur enjoyed camping, fishing, painting, and gardening. She also worked as a volunteer for many years at the gift shop of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital. In her later years, she especially enjoyed sunsets at Big Lake and fishing with her great-grandsons. Her greatest pleasure was being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they all adored her.

In addition to her late husband and two daughters, she was preceded in death by her husband, Emile Joseph LaFleur; daughter, Marci LaFleur Moss; infant daughter, Melanie Elizabeth LaFleur and parents, Floyd and Bertha Toney.

She is survived by her daughter Melinda and her grandchildren, Shane and Nicole Chapman of Hanover, NH, Amy Welsh of Lake Charles, Sara and Mark McDow of Dallas, Allen and Courtney Mecklenburg of Nine Palms, CA, Geoff and Nancy Mecklenburg of Houston, TX, John Veron of Los Angeles, Katharine Veron of Denver, and Dylan Veron of Little Rock, as well as her great-grandchildren, Harrison Chapman, Camille Chapman, Connor Welsh, Aidan Welsh, Brennan Welsh and Brooke Marcelle. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Ethel LaFleur Boley and Essie LaFleur Culotta, lifelong friends Opal Snatic and Vickie Snatic Darsey, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 PM Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Father Keith Pellerin will officiate. Interment will follow in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation Monday will be from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a scripture service beginning at 7:00 PM. Visitation Tuesday will be from 8:00 PM until 12:30 PM in the funeral home.

The family wishes to thank those who lovingly attended to Mrs. LaFleur before she passed away, including Drs. Garrett Ryder, Robin Rougeau, Francis Bride, Arthur Primeaux, and Henry Goolsby, nurses Dody Fry, Tommie Sumpter, and Jo Alice Trahan, niece Gwynn Houston, and all who provided their thoughts, prayers, and comfort during that time.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, P.O. Box 4386, Lake Charles, LA 70606.