Wilma Rabalais McLaughlin

Attended by her family and five hours into the new year, our Mama, Wilma Marguerite Rita Rabalais McLaughlin passed from this life into the next. She was 93. Mama said that since you would always be somewhere you just had to learn to be happy where you were. And wherever she was, she managed to be happy. It was how she lived her life on the large and lively stage of her extended family. She cared for and stood with D.C., her husband of 71 years, who died in 2011. She provided the needs of her family, and the needs many who were not. No one was ever turned away from her table. She had an ear and time help for anyone with a problem. She offered advice when it was asked for. If it was not asked for, she offered advice when it was needed. She loved every child she met, especially the babies. She cared for the sick, attended the dying and comforted those who remained behind. She rarely complained about anything, and never about her own needs or pain or discomfort. If she ever thought ill of anyone she kept it to herself. We never heard an unkind word to anyone, or about anyone. She believed that everyone must have a little bit of fun every day, so she made sure she had her bit of fun every day. She was preceded into the next life by her husband, David C. (D.C.) McLaughlin, Jr., daughters Kathleen Anne McLaughlin Perilloux and Blanche Marie McLaughlin, parents, Blanche Marie Guilbeau Rabalais and Joseph Henry Rabalais, brothers James Francis Martin Rabalais, Durward Jerome Rabalais, Anthony Benedict Rabalais, and Simeon Herbert Rabalais, and sisters Addie Mae Anastasia Rabalais and Anelia Bertha Rabalais Gros. Wilma is survived by her sister Catherine Anna Rabalais, known in her order as Sister Maria Rabalais, C.S.J., of Baton Rouge, and by her brother Harold Patrick Rabalais and his wife Yvonne Louise Buras of Houston. Wilma and D.C. 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. Wilma is also survived by son Durward McLaughlin and his wife Louise Knies of Baton Rouge, daughter Phyllis McLaughlin Nauman of Lafayette, daughter Joan D. Emerson of Baton Rouge and son Sean McLaughlin and his wife Toni Farris of Sparks, Nevada. She is also survived by grandchildren Glenn G. Perilloux of Gonzales, Julie Annemarie Perilloux of Houston, Ryan P. McLaughlin and his wife Victoria Arnold of Chicago, Emily McLaughlin Day and her husband Benjamin Marc Day of Houston, David Henry McLaughlin and his wife Ali Kowitz of Slidell, Michael Nauman of Baton Rouge, Robert Nauman and his wife Billie Whittaker of San Antonio, Carmen Emerson and fiancé David Magivney of Ponchatoula, and Sasha McLaughlin and Aidan McLaughlin, both of Sparks Nevada. She is survived by eight great-grandchildren, Andrew Perilloux of Louisiana, Avalyn Claire Day and Brennan William Day of Houston, Josephine Grace McLaughlin and Charlotte Elyce McLaughlin of Chicago, Nolan Henry McLaughlin and Archer Ryan McLaughlin of Slidell and Haley Emerson Magivney of Ponchatoula. Wilma, as everyone, certainly experienced sadness in her life, but she was never one to linger in sorrow. She lived for the day and the joy and happiness that each day and every life offered. If you see noisy young children at her funeral, know that she is loving the noise. The family thanks everyone at Ollie Steele Burden Manor, whose staff has cared for Wilma with love, kindness and gentle touch this last four years. We especially thank Director of Nursing Carla Brown and the many aides, nurses and administrators who attended her in her last hours and who helped make her passing peaceful for her, and poignant but joyful for her family. Visitation and funeral mass will be on Saturday, Jan. 4 at the chapel at Ollie Steele Burden Manor, with visitation at 1:00 p.m. and mass at 2:00 p.m. with interment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Donations in her memory may be made in lieu of flowers to the St. Vincent DePaul Sweet Dreams Center For Mothers And Children.