Ruth Gorum Moreau

The beautiful matriarch of our family, Ruth Moreau, went to be with the Lord peacefully at the age of 95 in Lafayette, at her daughter’s home. Our family is heartbroken, but we take comfort in knowing that she is once again with her husband and all of her family and friends who have passed before her. Ruth, also lovingly known as Maw Maw, was a lifelong resident of Natchitoches, until moving to Lafayette a few years ago to be with her daughter and family. She was born in Colfax on October 14, 1927, to Harvey B. Gorum and Florence McDermitt Gorum. She graduated from Natchitoches High School in 1945, and then married the love of her life, Mitchell Moreau, on August 9,1947. They were married 54 1/2 years until his passing. She was a beautiful, faithful, and very strong willed soul. Ruth was a very devout Catholic and loved the Lord. She prayed the rosary many times a day and would read her Bible and other religious books daily. Ruth was preceded in death by her loving husband Mitchell Moreau, her parents, her siblings and their spouses: HB Gorum (Mamie), Ruby Fletcher (Dellie), JD Gorum (Amelia) and Marion Lee “Jack” Gorum (Sis). Left to cherish her memories are her daughter, Ina Shafer, her granddaughter, Jymmye Shafer (Jarrett Willoughby) and great grandchildren Ruthie Jaye and Loren Mitchell Willoughby. She is also survived by her step-grandchildren Sunni Shafer and Kassi Guerra and their children, Justice Gambino, Lilé Anderson, Joshua Guerra, as well as a host of nieces and nephews on the Gorum and Moreau sides whom she loved very much. Lucy, her sweet fur baby, will also miss her very much. They spent many days together. Ruth’s home was always open. She loved visits from her family and friends and would always offer them something delicious that she cooked. Her favorite pastimes were working in her yard, tending to her flowers, sewing, crocheting, reading, and word searches. Ruth loved to cook. She said when she was a little girl that she wanted to grow up and make sweets for her husband and she did just that. Her special was coconut cake, also known as “telephone cake,” to all her family. She also loved making meat pies, kibbeh, hot tamales and sausage balls for her family. There was not one thing that she couldn’t make. She was a natural in the kitchen. Christmas was a special time for her. Growing up in the City of Lights, it was only fitting that she loved putting up her village, her many trees, and making cookies and candies to share with family and friends. But most importantly was the love for her family. Her daughter and grandchildren were her world. She loved them immensely and that love was returned. She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing and loving this sweet and talented lady. Her famous words when telling you “bye” were to add, “I love you more than you will ever know.” Visitation will be held at Blanchard St Denis Funeral home on Sunday, March 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and again before services on Monday, March 13. The recitation of the rosary will be at 6:00 on Sunday, March 12. A Mass of Christian burial will be at held The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Church on Monday, March 13 at 11:00 a.m. with Father Derek Ducote officiating. Burial will be at Memory Lawn Cemetery immediately following services Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be her great nephews Ricky Levasseur, Ken Fletcher, Troy Fletcher, Steve Faccone, Shane Garcie, Christopher Gorum, Casey Gorum and Sean Moreau. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenneth Fletcher, Gary Garcie, Kirby Moreau, Melvin Moreau, Buck Shafer, Dean Abraham and Jarrett Willoughby. The family wishes to express gratitude for the care, support and kindness by her excellent caregiver Savannah Hebert and to the doctors, many nurses and staff members of Acadian Hospice.