Obituary

Marie Dorothy (Girard) Derousseau, age 96, entered into rest on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, Clay Center, Kansas. She was born in St. Joseph, Kansas on November 26, 1921 to the late David and Rosanna (Balthazor) Girard.

She graduated from Aurora Catholic High School in 1940. On March 4, 1946 she married Alphonse Derousseau at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clyde, Kansas by Father Henry Sporenberg. She was a homemaker.

She was a former CCD teacher, Altar Society President, store clerk and held offices in the Parish Deanery. She also served on the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, was a Past Regent of the C.D.A. in the Clyde Parish and C.D.A. member of the Calling Committee. She was a Eucharist minister for the sick and homebound and a member of the Family Ministry group. Among her many community support positions she was a volunteer for the Park Villa Nursing Home and the VFW auxiliary of Clyde. She was a member of the Women of the Moose in Concordia, the Clyde Historical Society and a former member of the Meadowlark Hospice of Concordia and Clay Center. She also co-edited the St. Joseph area history book.

She will always be remembered as a devoted wife and mother, friend to all and a willing worker in her church and community. If anyone was sick or needed help, Marie was there for them. One did not have to call her to ask for help, she knew when anyone in the community was ill or just in need. She loved to cook for family and friends. It was always her greatest moment to have a large crowd around her table for her to feed. A smile was the only way she could greet anyone. She made everyone feel welcome and important, no matter who they were. One always knew that God, family, and friends were the most important things to her. She may have been small but left a huge impact on the community and the world.

She is survived by her children, son, Adrian Derousseau (Edith), Ottawa, KS.; daughter, Joyce Gengler (John) Fort Atkinson, WI.; son, Armand Derousseau (Stacie), Grapevine, TX.; Michael Derousseau (Ramona), Clay Center, KS.; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Alphonse, parents, brothers, Albert, Alcid, and Leo Girard, sisters, Stella Dallen, Esther Provost.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 from 1:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. A Rosary Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday evening all at the Chaput Mortuary, Clyde, Kansas. Family will receive friends after the Rosary Service.

Mass of a Christian Burial will be held 10:00 A.M., on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clyde, Kansas with Fr. Steven Heina officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, St. Joseph, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery or Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery Fund in c/o Chaput Mortuary. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com

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