Janice St. Martin Hargroder
A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 2, at 11 a.m. for Janice St. Martin Hargroder, 86, of Crowley, in St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Fr. Mikel Polson, pastor of St. Michael, will preside while Fr. Louie Richard, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville, and long-time friend of the family will concelebrate and deliver the homily. Fr. Billy Massie, associate pastor of St. Michael, will concelebrate as well.
Visitation will take place before Mass, beginning at 10 a.m. in the church.
Following a long and uniquely difficult journey with Alzheimer’s disease, Janice passed away peacefully at 2 a.m. on March 21, 2016, in the loving comfort of her home. She has charitably donated her body to science for medical research. This admirable act is but a mere reflection of who she was.
Born Nov. 17, 1929, in Ville Platte, Janice spent most of her years growing up in LaPlace. She graduated from Leon Gaudchaux High School in 1945 then obtained a degree in business education from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI.) Her teaching career began and ended in Church Point where she taught only one year at Church Point High. It was in Church Point where she met and fell in love with the man who would later become her husband of 64 years. Following her husband’s military tour of duty, they began their life together in Sulphur where they lived for four years before moving to Crowley.
She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend and was loved by all. Her genuine smile, her positive outlook and her gentle ways were infectious. She was always willing to help anyone at any time and managed to have fun doing whatever it was she set out to do. She enjoyed sewing, especially needle work and making beautiful wedding veils for many family members.
Janice was also very active in her faith. She served as a lector for many years at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Crowley and most recently was an active member of the St. Michael Altar Society, the Lay Carmelite and Ladies Rosary Group. She enjoyed playing weekly card games of bridge and bourré with her friends. She traveled extensively through the years and was always ready for adventure. She loved nothing more than being with friends and family.
Survivors include her husband, Earl Hargroder Jr. of Crowley; her six children, Steven M. Hargroder (Mara) of Boise, Idaho, Jan Hargroder Herpin (Dennis) of Mire, Penny Hargroder Habetz (Kenny) of Crowley, Dr. David E. Hargroder (Angelique) of Joplin, Missouri, Mark F. Hargroder (Kerry) of Scarborough, Queensland, Austrailia, and Lynn Hargroder Hershey (Mike) of Alexandria, Virginia; brothers, Dr. S.J. (Billy) St. Martin and Tommy St. Martin; sister, Dale St. Martin Leonard, all of Laplace; 22 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lionel F. St. Martin and Ada Soileau St. Martin, brother, Lionel St. Martin, and sister, Wanda St. Martin Ollar, all of LaPlace and Peggy St. Martin Epperson, of Upland, California.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Louisiana Chapter, http://www.alz.org/louisiana/, or to St. Michael Elementary, www.stmike.net, or Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish, www.ndpios.com.
The family would like to thank Dr. Saini, Lamm Home Health and Hospice staff, Judy Borill, Sheryl Trahan, Kristen Istre, Patti Guidry, and personal care-givers, Janice LeJeune, Melody Guillory and Lenora George for their incredible love, compassion and professional expertise on this journey together.
Condolences may be sent to the family by www.geeseyferguson.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.