David C. McLaughlin

David Cornelius McLaughlin Jr., known to almost everyone as "D.C.," after having "one more little shot of coffee" left this life and entered his next life that is glorious and well-deserved, on Monday, July 11, 2011, 10 days before his 94th birthday. He is survived by "Mama," who was born Wilma Marguerite Rabalais, with whom he shared 71 years of marriage, six children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He left us from Ollie Steele Burden Manor, where he resided with Mama for the last year and a half. As he was breathing his last, he was attended by his wife, his children and their spouses, his grandchildren and his friends. A pianist entertaining other residents in the day room happened to be playing his and Mama's favorite song, "Beautiful Dreamer." He outlived all of his immediate family, most of his friends and all but three of his fellow graduates of the Catholic High School Class of 1933. Preceding him into eternity were his parents, David C. McLaughlin Sr. and Olive Hebert; sisters, Mildred Sicard, Sister Evelyn McLaughlin, CSJ, and Patricia Holden; brothers, Brother Howard (Leslie) McLaughlin, SC, and the Rev. Joseph Earl McLaughlin. He and Mama had six children. They buried two daughters, Blanche Marie McLaughlin, who was born in 1948 and lived only a day, and Kathleen Anne McLaughlin Perilloux, who died in 2002, leaving two children, a grandson and her husband of 39 years, Clarence "Lou" Perilloux. D.C. is survived by a son, Durward McLaughlin, of Baton Rouge, and his wife, Louise Knies; daughters, Phyllis McLaughlin Nauman, of Lafayette, and Joan D. Emerson, of Baton Rouge; and son, Sean McLaughlin, of Reno, Nev., and his wife, Toni Farris. He is survived by grandchildren Glenn G. Perilloux, Julie Annemarie Perilloux Wakefield, of Alabama, and husband Jobe, Ryan P. McLaughlin, of Atlanta, and his wife, Tori Arnold, Emily McLaughlin Day, of Houston, and her husband, Benjamin Marc Day, David Henry McLaughlin, of Slidell, and his wife, Ali Kowitz, Michael Nauman, of Baton Rouge, Robert Nauman, of Virginia, and his wife, Billie, Carmen Emerson, of Ponchatoula, and Sacha McLaughlin and Aiden McLaughlin, both of Reno. He is survived by five great-grandchildren, Andrew Perilloux, Avalyn Claire Day and Brennan William Day, of Houston, Josephine Grace McLaughlin, of Atlanta, and Nolan Henry McLaughlin, of Slidell. D.C. was a founding member of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Baton Rouge and a founding member of the Usher's Society at Sacred Heart until he moved to St. Jude Parish in 1979. He was a founding member of the Catholic Boy's Club that later became the CYO. He was a Scoutmaster and Cubmaster for the Scouting organizations at Sacred Heart for many years. He was a graduate of LSU, but his real commitment was to Catholic High School of Baton Rouge. Catholic High was the love of his life after God, wife and family. He attended Catholic High when it was known as St. Vincent's Academy from third grade until he graduated from Catholic High in 1933 at age 15. Two sons and two grandsons have followed him as graduates. He was a charter member of the Catholic High School Men's Club and attended every annual Men's Club Barbecue until last year. In 1998, he received the Golden Bear Award, the honor bestowed on the annually chosen new member of the Catholic High School Hall of Fame. Visitation at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Thursday, July 14, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 2250 Main St., on Friday, July 15, from 9:40 a.m. until Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Donations in his memory may be made in lieu of flowers to the Catholic High School development fund. D.C. wanted his last ceremonies to be a celebration of his life and of the living. He hoped that everyone attending would ". . . wear bright colors, and leave their long faces at home." The family thanks everyone at Ollie Steele Burden Manor whose staff has cared for D.C. and Wilma with love, kindness and gentle touch this last year and a half. We especially thank Carla, Lonnie and Kathy who attended him in his last hours and who helped make his passing peaceful for him, and poignant but joyful for his family.