Dennie Joseph Lavoi

Dennie Joseph Lavoi, age 93 years, died at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, June 8, 2016, at Harbor House Hospice. He was a native of Lake Charles, a graduate of Landry Memorial High School, and a Marine Corporal in WWII. As a Marine he served as a guard at the Mer Island Naval prison in Valero, Calf. He then volunteered for the 5th Marine Division where he fought in the battle for Iwo Jima. His division was part of the forces deployed to invade the islands of Japan. He served as part of the occupation of Japan.

After returning to Lake Charles he worked as a rice farmer on his family farm. He has always loved farming and read farm magazines keeping up with the latest trends until the last few months of his life. He also worked as a pipe fitter at the Conoco Refinery in Westlake and as a real estate agent and broker. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Council and the Fifth Marine Division Association. As a parent he enjoyed being involved in his sons’ sports activities as well as hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren. He maintained a vegetable garden which became smaller as he grew older. He was a wise and knowledgeable man to his family, who never lost his understanding of the way the world works. We will miss our time and conversations with him.

He was the youngest son of Jasper Anthony Lavoi, born in Ragusa, Sicily, Italy and Mary Peronia, born on Ged Plantation in Louisiana. He had an older sister, Annie Sylvester, and an older brother, Sidney Lavoi. He was married to Dorothy Fontenot Lavoi who predeceased him. He also was married to Frances Franklin. He has 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren as well as yet to be born twin girls. His daughters are Carole Lavoi Shafer and Patricia Lavoi (Dan Hollier). His sons are Dennie J. II (Melanie), Randy (Deidra), and Gary (Stephanie). His grandchildren are Alecia Lavoi, her children Lakelyn and Daylan, Brandy Lavoi Ackley (Joe), their children Kerrigan and Kadence, Jeremey Lavoi (Abby), their child Lilly, Miranda Lavoi, Jasper Lavoi, Gabriel Lavoi, and Collette Lavoi, Sean Shafer, Eric Shafer (Whitney), and their yet to be born twin girls.

Visitation will be Friday evening, June 10, 2016 at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be on June 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church with burial following at Consolata Cemetery. We wish to thank Dr. Joshua Whatley, Resthaven Nursing Home, and Harbor House Hospice for their help and kindness to our father during the last months of his life. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com.