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The Life of Mary Jane Barnidge

Services of remembrance and thanksgiving for the life of Mary Brodhead Barnidge will be held at 10:00a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. She slipped peacefully into the arms of her Lord at 6:15 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005 at Southwest Medical Center.She will be laid to rest beside her late husband, Louis Elmer Elmo Barnidge at Holy Mary Mother of God Cemetery in Lafayette.Mrs. Barnidge was born Mary Jane Brodhead in Lafayette on March 29, 1916 to Lewis James Brodhead and Ella Patin Brodhead. She and her husband Elmo lived for many years in Pineville, La. where he was Manager of Grounds for the Central Louisiana State Hospital and where they raised their two sons, Jimmy and Jackie.Mary was a talented and resourceful seamstress who developed a thriving business making commercial and residential draperies. When her husband retired and the family moved to Lafayette, Mary continued her home-based business and is credited with introducing to the area the use of several specialized commercial sewing machines that increased the quality and efficiency of drapery production.Mary Barnidge was a devoted Catholic and spent many Saturdays in Pineville gathering cut flowers from the greenhouses under her husbands care and arranging them for Sunday Masses at Sacred Heart Church. She enjoyed many good times with her sister Bella celebrating Mardi Gras as a member of the Krewe of Alexander in Alexandria. In Lafayette, Mary was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish where she was known as the Pillow Lady because of the many decorative pillows she made and donated to Fatima events.Survivors who were blessed by Marys life include two sons, James Louis Barnidge and wife Paula of Thibodaux, Jack Raymond Barnidge and his companion Sharon Rue of Lafayette, one sister Mrs. Bella Buhler of Pineville and a brother Herbert Bert Brodhead and his wife Wilda of Lafayette; six grandchildren, Phil Barnidge, Brent Barnidge, Michelle Barnidge, Dana Poirrier, Yvette Theriot and Jason Barnidge; eight great-grandchildren Michael Dustin Monnin, Jacob Edward LeBouef, Jared Paul LeBouef, Peyton Daniel Theriot, Kaitlyn Angelle Poirrier, Natalya Marina Theriot, Chad David Pfister, Emilie Lauren Pfister.Going before Mary to their heavenly home were her husband, Louis Elmer Barnidge, her parents Lewis and Ella Brodhead, and siblings Lula Aucoin, John L. Brodhead, Clarence O. Brodhead, Charles J. Brodhead and Little Stanley and Little Ella Brodhead.The family invites visitation at Martin & Castille Funeral Home of Lafayette on Monday from 2:00-9:00p.m. and on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until time of services. The Rosary will be prayed Monday at 7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. prior to the services.Pallbearers will be Jason Barnidge, Phil Barnidge, Brent Barnidge, Dusty Monnin, Jacob LeBouef and Doug Brodhead.The family is grateful to Marys long-time caregiver Mrs. Sandra Neck who lovingly and patiently looked after her in the last six years of her life. Also to neighbors Gerald K. and Betty Royer whose many kindnesses over the years endeared them to Mary and Elmo and to the entire family. Special thanks to Dr. Kenneth Spiller who was Mary's caring and trusted physician for many years. Hospice of Acadiana, in particular Dr. Morris Hoffpauir, was a blessing to the family and to Mary in her final days.Those wishing to do so may remember Mary with a donation to Hospice of Acadiana. Arrangements have been entrusted to Martin & Castille Funeral Home, Inc. of Lafayette.

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2005.10.22
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