Janet Daboval Musso

NEW IBERIA – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Janet Daboval Musso, 83, at 11:00 am Thursday, November 20, 2014 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Fr. Charles Langlois will be the celebrant and conduct the Mass. Entombment will follow in Holy Family Mausoleum.

Visiting hours will be observed Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m., at Evangeline Funeral Home. Visitation will resume Thursday at 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

Born April 17, 1931, in Kaplan, Janet grew up in Gueydan, Louisiana, and was a longtime resident of New Iberia. She died at 3:09 p.m., Monday, November 17, 2014, on her mother’s birthday, after working with resolve to overcome ongoing complications following surgery.

Janet was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She graduated from Gueydan High School and received her B.S. in music education from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana in Lafayette). As an outstanding coloratura soprano, she was frequently invited to perform at many of the university’s functions as well as at other south Louisiana events. Despite an opportunity to pursue a career in New York in opera, Janet opted to remain in south Louisiana. In 1953, she wed Camille Musso, to whom she was married for 53 years. Her expertise in music was ably demonstrated in her role as a music teacher at New Iberia Senior High School. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she influenced many students who later achieved success in the music industry. Her greatest joy, however, was her 25-year role as Coordinator/Choir Director at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Among many things, “her choir” will remember her for her high standards in practice and for her ability to command attention by simply raising her eyebrows. She approached her role as director of the choir with such commitment and dedication that she often planned music for services several months in advance. Among the many music awards she received throughout her life, the most recent was in 2006, when she was awarded the Bunk Johnson Award for ministers of music.

She is survived by three children, Pam Musso Braud and husband Craig of Baton Rouge, Stephanie Musso Ochello of Lafayette, and Ricky Musso and wife Pam of New Iberia; seven grandchildren, Nathan Braud, Stephanie Braud Terry and husband David, William Braud and wife Landry, Lorien Ochello Owens and husband Dr. William Owens, Dr. Charles Ochello and wife Lindsay, Kate Ochello Hays and husband Brandon, and Jillian Musso; seven great-grandchildren, Jack and Sawyer Terry; William, Zachary, and Amelia Owens, and Charles III and Camille Ochello; and two step-grandchildren, Derek and Madison Bordelon.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Camille T. Musso, and by her parents, Maurice and Ada Renoudet Daboval.

Pallbearers will be Nathan Braud, William Braud, David Terry, Charles Ochello, Jr., Brandon Hays and Gwain Roundtree. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the choir of St. Peter’s Catholic Church and William Owens.

The family would like to express deep appreciation to Dr. Lacie Alfonso of the rehab floor of Our Lady of Lourdes and to the aides and therapists at her rehab center, who treated her with dignity, kindness, and respect. In addition, we would like to thank her sitters Rosemary, Ruthine, Velma, and Connie, who served our family faithfully and sensitively for the last couple of months in making her last days peaceful and comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.

To view the online obituary and sign the guestbook, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com

Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia (337) 364-1881 is in charge of arrangements.