Annabelle Smith Provence, 76, of LaPlace, La., formerly of Tuckerman, Ark., entered into Heaven on Monday, September 13, 2021. She was born March 8, 1945 in Camden, Ark. to Lindley Van Smith, Sr. and Elizabeth Rossington Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Annabelle is survived by her husband of 57 years, Bill Provence, and three sons; Van (Katey) Provence of Jonesboro, Ark., Paul (Leslie) Provence of Searcy, Ark., and Rob Provence of LaPlace. She is also survived by one brother, Lindley (Susan) Smith of Jonesboro, three grandchildren; Loren Provence of New Orleans, Emily and Will Provence of Searcy, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and her “Birthday Club” group of friends in the New Orleans area which consisted of Diane Kratochvil, Joy Gaspard, Toni Ulmer, Theresa Hebert, Inez Hines, Glenda Wactor, Mel Wiken, Shawn Reuther and the late Anne Weaver.
Annabelle was a 1967 honor graduate of Arkansas State University and after teaching English, French and Shakespeare for 13 years, was a Tupperware manager for 39 years, where she made many dear friends throughout the years. She was also the president of the St. Joan of Arc Ministry of Care in LaPlace, where she spent years providing volunteer assistance through the church to those in need in the LaPlace area.
Out of her love to her Lord, she was a servant to many and was awarded the Order of St. Louis Medallion in 2016 by the Archdiocese of New Orleans. She loved everything about New Orleans and south Louisiana.
Annabelle was blessed with an incredible sense of humor, which she maintained until the very end. She was strong, determined, and loyal to her family, caring deeply for her husband, sons and their families, and other relatives, who she took great pleasure in keeping in contact with.
A funeral mass will be held Friday, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m., at Saint Angela Merici Catholic Church, 901 Beverly Garden Drive in Metairie, La., with Fr. Clayton (Beau) Charbonnet officiating. A visitation will be held at the church before the service, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
A graveside service will be held at Gracelawn Cemetery in Tuckerman, Ark., at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Annabelle requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the St. Joan of Arc Ministry of Care (529 W. 5th Street, LaPlace, LA, 70068), or to the Arkansas State University fundraising chapter for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis at bit.ly/394QfL1
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