Jocelyn Marie Blanchard Bourgeois

Jocelyn Marie Blanchard Bourgeois, 74, died Sunday, September 28th at Baton Rouge General Hospital surrounded by her family and the caring staff of the Baton Rouge General.  Jocelyn, a Christmas Eve baby, always had a special place in her heart for the Christmas holidays.  She and her husband of 55 years, John Bourgeois, spread the magic of Christmas by visiting area businesses, nursing homes and schools dressed as Santa and Mrs. Clause.  Jocelyn was a 1957 graduate of St. Joseph's Academy.  She was the CEO of Jocelyn Rentals, the secretary/treasurer of Ponderosa Construction and an Interior Designer for Bourgeois and Son Builders.  An avid painter, Jocelyn could often be seen searching for new inspiration to adorn one of her many canvases.  Jocelyn was proud of her Cajun-French heritage.  She was the epitome of  "joie de vivre." She loved to speak with family members in Cajun French, eat Cajun food, and enjoy Cajun music and dancing. Jocelyn was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church Altar Rosary Society and Bereavement Committee. She enjoyed her retirement years camping, LSU tailgating with friends and exercising at the YMCA.  She is survived by her loving husband, John Bourgeois; her mother, Zula Roy Blanchard, brother, Daniel Blanchard, five children: John Bourgeois Jr. and his wife Lisa Bourgeois, Diana Bourgeois Graham, Mike Bourgeois and his wife Denise Bourgeois, James Bourgeois and his wife Diane Bourgeois, and Marie Bourgeois Bernard and her husband George Bernard Jr. Jocelyn also leaves behind 15 loving grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Dewey Blanchard, her sister, Deborah Blanchard Lefebvre, and her daughter, Theresa Bourgeois Soileau.  Visitation will be Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East 11000 Florida blvd. from 5:00pm until 9:00pm. Visitation will resume Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church 14040 Greenwell Springs Rd. 70739 from 9:30am until Mass of Christian burial at 11:00am internment to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Alzheimer's Association