Mary Jessie Gallardo

Lake Charles - Mary Jessie Gallardo, 91, passed away Thursday, August 29, 2013 in a local hospital.

Mary was born in DeRidder and lived in Lake Charles. She was a member of St. Margaret Catholic Church, where she enjoyed ministering to people and volunteering as an Extraordinary Minister of Communion for Lake Charles Care Center, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Extended Care Center and Lloyd Oaks Housing Center. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters, the St. Margaret Altar Society, The Rosary Group which prayed the rosary with bereaved families and the Steering Committee for the Bishop’s Women’s Prayer Luncheon. She retired from the U.S. Department of Navy in Washington, D.C. She will be remembered as a caring, admirable woman who had a great faith and trust in God.

Mary loved to bake cookies and brownies. She made many a batch for Calca Chew and other church activities as well as for social events with friends. She liked to travel to religious shrines. She enjoyed seeing the Holy Land, Lourdes, Fatima and many churches in Rome, as well as visiting EWTN and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Alabama. She will be truly missed by those who loved her, her family, friends and especially by her beloved cat, Sassy.

She is survived by her brother, Joseph J. Gallardo of Barrington, NJ; sisters, Mary Hope Smertneck of Winter Park, FL; Rita Sparkman of Garland, TX; Esther Gallardo of Lake Charles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10am, Thursday, September 5, 2013 at St. Margaret Catholic Church. The Rev. Bill Miller will officiate. Visitation will be at Hixson Funeral Home of Lake Charles, Thursday from 8am until time of service with a rosary at 9am. Burial will be at Consolata Cemetery. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com