She was born August 23, 1943, in Elton, LA to Winnie and Frances Young. She graduated from Elton High School in 1961 and married the love of her life in 1962, Harlen Judice, and moved to Vinton in 1964. Most people knew her as Mitt, even though her given name was Elizabeth. Mitt was a nickname given to her as a young girl and it remained with her throughout her years. She was married for over 60 years, which is such a milestone accomplishment in her life. She was a full-time wife and mother and spent her days enjoying cooking, baking, and sewing. She was a talented seamstress and sewed everything from curtains, wedding dress, bridal party gowns, outfits for her daughters, as well as all the typical mending that goes along with having a family on a farm. She believed sewing was a life skill and she taught her daughters to sew at an early age. Baking was more than a hobby to her, and she took immense pride in her delicious pecan pies, German Chocolate cakes, famous peanut brittle, pralines, and anything sweet. Over the years she created a vast recipe collection from friends, families, or those she created herself. Her family will remember her pursuing painting as she created many keepsakes that are treasured to this day. She loved music and enjoyed listening to it and singing along, as well sing hymns along during Sunday mass. She was an active parent for school, organization, and church trips, including serving as a local 4-H leader for years to support her children’s involvement. Many years were spent at 4-H livestock shows with her children and lifetime friendships were made during those times and continued over the years. Working as an election poll worker, she enjoyed the camaraderie of this service over the years. For years, she always remembered the major events in her family’s lives and was known for her annual calendars that documented each of those special dates.
Mitt was a donor to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Buddy Walks to support Down Syndrome. She wanted to keep research going for future children and generations to come.
A member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, she was an inaugural Catholic Daughters of America member. She actively participated in her church as she spent years as a Eucharistic minister in church and serving homebound members of the community, lector, CCD teacher, and RCIA instructor. Attending cursillo and silent retreats in Grand Coteau, LA was something special to her and she enjoyed.
She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother and survived by her children, Damon Judice and his wife Karen of Orangefield, TX, Mitzi Patin and her husband Paul of Cypress, TX, Taina Savoit and her husband Paul of Lacassine, LA, and Amber Stewart and her husband Jason of Frisco, TX; her sister Theresa Lyons and husband Larry of Lake Arthur, LA, her brother Tim Young of Elton, LA. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren Brandon Patin, Montana Patin, Nichole Williams, Blake Judice, Brody Judice, Bailey Stewart, Caden Stewart, Allie Stewart, and Carson Stewart and blessed with seven great-grandchildren. Mitt is preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Harlen Judice, her parents and her sister, Veronica Chaumont. Our memories of Mitt, Mom, and “Granny” will forever be in our hearts.
The family thanks the amazing staff at The Verandah for the care they provided her while she was a resident there.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 1st at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Vinton officiated by Father Carlos Garcia. Burial to follow at Mimosa Pines Cemetery South in Carlyss. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday, May 31st from 4-7 p.m. at Hixson Funeral Home of Vinton with rosary to be recited at 6 p.m. Visitation will resume on Monday from 8 a.m. until dismissal for the mass.
In lieu of customary remembrances and flowers, memorial contributions in Mitt’s memory may be directed to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church or St. Jude Children's Hospital.
