The Life of Rosemary Schoelen
A Rite of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 23, 2011, at 10:00 AM in St. Mary Mother of the Church in Lafayette, for Rosemary Fath Schoelen, 81, who died on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at home, surrounded by her devoted children. The Celebrant will be Reverend Harold J. Trahan, Pastor of St. Mary Mother of the Church. Concelebrating will be Reverend George Simon.
Interment will be in Holy Mary Mother of God Cemetery.
A native of Tonkawa, Oklahoma and a resident of Lafayette for the majority of her life, Rosemary was born on January 22, 1930 to Elizabeth Leta Fry and George W. Fath. Rosemary was one of six children. She was the treasured baby sister, whose family lived on the farm. Her brothers allowed her to "tag along" when they hunted, specifically to carry the ducks or game brought back home.
Rosemary earned a B.S. Degree in Home Economics from Oklahoma State University. She was a Registered Dietitian and Consultant to five hospitals and several nursing homes in the Lafayette area, which included: Charity Hospital, Abram Kaplan Memorial Hospital, Erath Memorial, Dauterive Hospital, Bethany Nursing Home, Consolata Nursing Home and USL OK Allen Dining Hall.
Mrs. Schoelen was a charter member of the Lafayette Ladies Civitan Club, Acadian Civitan Club and the Action Krewe Civitan Club. She was active as the "Cake Lady" in baking desserts for Senior Citizens'' monthly meetings at St. Mary''s Catholic Church through her involvement in Suga Bees. At St. Mary''s, she served as God''s Housekeeper and was a member of the Ladies Altar Society, most recently on the telephone calling committee. She was a member of the Suburban Homemakers, serving in many capacities including an officer. Professionally, she was a member of the Acadiana Dietetic and Nutrition Association, Louisiana Dietetic Association and the American Dietetic Association. Rosemary mentored many dietetic students while in their internships at Charity Hospital. Mrs. Schoelen was one of the first Registered and Licensed Dietitians in the Lafayette Community.
Survivors include her beloved children: three daughters, Avis Alice Schoelen Domingue and her husband Frank "Frankie" J. Domingue, Carla Jane Schoelen Montesano and her husband Joseph "Bubba" Montesano and Dina Faye Schoelen Segura and her husband Ernest "Butch" Segura, Jr., all of Lafayette; and one son, Mikel John Schoelen of Palmer Lake, Colorado; nine grandsons, Dave J. DeSoto and his wife Stacy Elias-DeSoto, Bob C. DeSoto of Sedalia, Colorado, J. "Nick" Montesano and his wife Rebecca Barras Montesano, J. "Andy" Montesano, G. "Mike" Montesano, M. "Tony" Montesano, M. "Clay" Montesano, Stewart A. Segura and Whitney M. Segura; one granddaughter, Christine Fath Montesano Hargrove and her husband H. "Trey" Hargrove; and five great grandchildren, Jack-Nelson DeSoto, Sarah E. Elias, Caroline M. Montesano, Katelynn G. Montesano and Braedyn J. Segura. She is also survived by a brother, Roy Conrad Fath and his wife Ona Mae of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; one sister, Alice Elizabeth Fath Hodgens and her husband Wiley W. Hodgens of Hockley, Texas; and three sister-in-laws, Carol Ann Schoelen Coats of Kansas City, Missouri, Bonnie White Schoelen of Palmdale, California and Virginia Schoelen of Novato, California.
Rosemary loved to cook and bake, particularly for her family and was known for her "Granny Specials"-Cherry Berry pies and uniquely flavored and decorated cake delights. She handed down her passion for cooking to her children and grandchildren, with one-on-one lessons from her home cooking classes. The fruits of her gifts were shared with many friends, neighbors and family.
When asked who inspired her in her professional career, Rosemary named her husband, John Scheer Schoelen, who encouraged her to do her best and to keep working toward her goals. She enjoyed being in the dietetic profession to provide opportunities to help maintain and improve the quality of life for others. Rosemary exuded joy in her life''s work and shared it with others. She dedicated her knowledge and works to the health care field.
Rosemary worked hard to instill in her family her love of God and neighbor. She passed down to her children and grandchildren the lost art of letter writing. She faithfully wrote her out of town children and grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends weekly. She constantly looked after ill, widowed and homebound neighbors and friends.
Pallbearers will be her nine grandsons, Dave J. DeSoto, Bob C. DeSoto, J. "Nick" Montesano, J. "Andy" Montesano, G. "Mike" Montesano, M. "Tony" Montesano, M. "Clay" Montesano, Stewart A. Segura and Whitney M. Segura. Honorary Pallbearers will be her three son-in-laws, Frank "Frankie" J. Domingue, Joseph "Bubba" Montesano and Ernest "Butch" Segura, Jr.; and George Scott, Doug Delcambre, Jim Krantz and Paul Cassity. Lectors will be Christine Montesano Hargrove and Mikel John Schoelen. Giftbearers will be Stacy Elias DeSoto, Rebecca Montesano and H. "Trey" Hargrove. Monica Melancon, soloist, accompanied by Deborah Duhon, organist, will sing "Amazing Grace", "Psalm 23", "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman" and "O God Beyond All Praising" for the services.
The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille''s DOWNTOWN Lafayette location on Thursday, December 22, 2011 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Friday from 8:00 AM until time of service.
A Scripture Wake Service by Mr. Phil Lizotte will be held on Thursday at 6:30 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to "Respire Haiti", C/O Megan Boudreaux, 215 Karen Drive, Lafayette, LA 70503/www.respirehaiti.org OR The Action Krewe Civitan Club, P. O. Box 80241, Lafayette, LA 70598-0241/www.civitan.net/actionkrewe OR Alleman Center/LARC, 303 New Hope Road, Lafayette, LA 70506.
"All that I am or Hope to be I owe to my Mother"...Abraham Lincoln
"It''s Christmas every time you let God love others through you"...Blessed Mother Theresa
Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311
