The Life of Margaret Sere
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at a 10:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary Catholic Church in Lafayette for Margaret Witsell Seré, 91.Interment will be held at Holy Mary Mother of God Cemetery.Reverend Patrick Wattingy, Pastor of St. Benilde Catholic Church in Metairie, Louisiana and great- nephew of Mrs. Seré, will be the celebrant of the funeral Mass. Jodi Bollich, organist and soloist, will sing "Ave Maria", "Be Not Afraid", "On Eagles'' Wings" and "By Name I Have Called You" for the services.Margaret Witsell Seré, 91, of Lafayette, Louisiana, died peacefully in her home on April 6, 2008. She was born in Mobile, Alabama, on September 2, 1916, to Frances and Robert H. Witsell. She and her family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1928, and she graduated from Joseph Kohn High School of Commerce six years later. She worked for the Social Security Office in Baton Rouge, later transferring to the New Orleans office, where she met her future husband Jared (Jerry) Y. Seré. They married on April 15, 1944, in New Orleans, and, after a brief stay in Port Arthur, Texas, eventually settled in Lafayette in 1954. After her marriage, she devoted herself to raising her two sons and taking on leadership roles in several garden clubs. Between 1964 and 1976 she worked for the Federal Aviation Agency. From 1990 on, she was a tireless volunteer for Morality in the Media. She was a long time member of St. Mary Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her devoted husband, Jerry; her brother Bobby and her sister Catherine; as well as a stillborn son. She is survived by her two sons, Darby Seré and his wife Judy, of Houston; Stephen Seré and his wife Marla, of Lafayette; her brother Jack Witsell and her sister Grace Witsell, both formerly of New Orleans and residing in Lafayette with Mrs. Seré since Hurricane Katrina; and her brother Fred and his wife Lou, of Piedmont, Alabama. Her grandchildren are Hunter Shively and his wife Jessica, Andy and Connie Seré, Callie Seré Mocek and her husband Steven, Ramey Seré Badeaux and her husband Brooks, Jared Seré and his wife Kally, and April Seré. Her great-grandchildren are Robert and Charlotte Shively; Isabelle, Seré and Gabriel Mocek; and Brant Badeaux. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as her dear friends and wonderful neighbors on Montrose Avenue. A special debt of gratitude is owed to Amian Health Services; its owner, Phillip Papillion; her primary care giver, Ruth Keller; as well as Tamara Broussard, Stacie Brown and all of the caregivers for providing loving care in her last years. Many thanks also to Diana Bourg, who faithfully served as Mrs. Seré?s hairdresser each week, and Hospice of Acadiana for their comforting services in her final hours. Margaret was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved God, her family, and her church. She will be dearly missed. Pallbearers will be Hunter Shively, Steven Mocek, Brooks Badeaux, Jared Seré, Andy Seré and Robert Witsell.Friends and family are invited to visitation at the Martin & Castille Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a rosary prayed by Reverend Monsignor Robie Robichaux, JCL at 7:00 p.m., and continuing on Wednesday from 8:00 AM until the time of service.The family wishes for any donations to be made to Brothers of the Christian Schools, 1522 Carmel Dr., Lafayette, LA 70501, Covenant House, 611 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70112, the Eternal World Television Network (EWTN), 5817 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale, AL 35210-2164 or St. Mary Catholic Church, 419 Doucet Rd., Lafayette, LA 70503. Martin & Castille-Lafayette, 234-2311
