Florida Dominique Petro

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for Florida D. Petro, 96, who died Monday, February 5, 2007 at Lafayette General Hospital. Interment will take place in St. John Cemetery in Lafayette. The Reverend Keith J. Derouen, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist will be Celebrant of the Mass and conduct the services. A family has lost its matriarch, a community has lost a leader and many have lost one of their lives foundations. Florida Dominique Petro was born on March 28, 1910 in St. Martinville, Louisiana to parents of Lebanese descent, Paul and Catherine Dominique. Her tremendous commitment to family and work was demonstrated at an early age when her father died at the age of 29 and her mother became seriously ill. She and her brother, Alcide, were protective of their younger siblings and maintained their family's household of six. She cherished her brothers and sisters, Joseph, Alcide, Victoria, Eva and Eddie. Her strength, hard work and beauty caught the eye of her beloved Joseph, whom she married at the age of 16. Joseph and Florida worked side by side in his grocery store and later opened Petro's Supermarket on Lamar Street. As their business grew so did their family. No one was prouder of her children, Rosemarie, Joe (Junior) and Cathy, than Florida. Their business would soon be advertised as "owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph S. Petro and Son". At a time when it was impossible for women to own or borrow, Florida got loans in her name and bought numerous properties. Florida Petro opened her heart and home to everyone, especially children. In 1957, she became a founding member of Aiding Leukemia-Stricken American Children (ALSAC), an organization created by Danny Thomas who would later build St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Florida was very active in the local ALSAC organization. She served on various committees and became Director of the Lafayette Chapter of ALSAC. All of her children and her husband became involved with this effort. Rosemarie served as chairwoman of a committee, Junior hosted dinners for its benefit and Cathy was chairwoman of the teen efforts. Her husband, Joe, supported this effort and co-hosted many dinners for ALSAC's national officers and directors. The organization's national newsletter in November of 1964 included the headline, "Mother-Daughter Team Show the Way in Lafayette, Louisiana". They made note of the teen march that had 465 teen volunteers and the fact that the chapter had increased its contributions five times in just two years under its "City Director, Mrs. Joseph S. Petro, Sr." This was not the only leadership role taken by this strong willed, big hearted, generous woman who "multi-tasked" before it was ever given that name. Concurrent with her ALSAC, work and family duties, Florida was a leader in the Cedars Club of Lafayette which included Lebanese, Syrian and American families. This club was a chapter of the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs. At its 1964 National Convention held in Lafayette, gubernatorial candidate, John McKeithen was hosted by the national organization and the auxiliary club of Lafayette and its president, Florida Petro. She was instrumental in the group's acquisition of a clubhouse building and led the women's auxiliary as president for more than five terms. Florida was a phenomenal fundraiser and a tireless worker. A devout Catholic, Florida was an active member in many religious organizations including the Cathedral Altar Society, Catholic Daughters Court Immaculata, Legion of Mary and the Council of Catholic Women. St. Jude held a special place in her life and her home was open to anyone who wanted to participate in prayer meetings. Her daughter Rosemarie joined her in these religious activities just as she had in the American Business Women's Association. Florida Dominique Petro will be remembered as a larger than life person whose incredible strength was complemented with compassion, grace and dignity. She was the rock upon which a large family, rich in tradition, was built, with great love, and taught by example to always answer the call of those in need. Florida and Joseph Petro provided a home filled with singing, dancing, unbelievable and unending food and unconditional love for their family, extended family and friends. Florida is survived by her children, Rosemarie Petro Koury, Joseph S. Petro, Jr. and his wife Edrea and Catherine Petro; her grandchildren, Jacqueline Koury Johnson and her husband John, Cynthia Petro Frisby and her husband Ronnie, Joseph S. Petro, III and his wife Connie, Connie Koury, Paul Petro and his wife Belle, Mary Petro Kidder and her husband Ronald, David Koury, Kenneth (Kenny) Petro and his wife Brenda, Freda Petro Talbot, George Petro and his wife Patti, Greg Petro and his wife Laurie, Sylvia Petro Tongate and her husband Jacky; her step grandchildren Jon Rhodes and his wife Yvonne, Glenn Rhodes and his wife Roanna, and Robyn Rhodes; her great grandchildren, Dane Boudreaux, Jennifer Johnson Sellers and her husband Jed, Joshua Talbot, Terry James Delhomme, III, Diana Johnson, Michael Talbot, Robbie Petro, Lindsey Petro, Colby Kidder, Trevor Kidder; her step great grandchildren, Jared Leger and his wife Kristi, and Tiffany Leger; her great great grandchildren, Taylor Dane Boudreaux and Kealie Petro; and her step great great grandchildren Evan Rhodes, Mattie Rhodes, Emily Rhodes, Leah Tongate and Landon Leger; numerous nieces and nephews and a large extended family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joseph; her parents Catherine and Paul Dominique; her brothers and sisters, Joseph Dominique, Alcide Dominique and his wife Aline, Victoria Ashy and her husband Joe, Eva Venable and her husband Merlin, and Eddie Dominique and his wife Elaine; her daughter in-law Sylvia Ashy Petro; her grandson Jason Michael Petro and grandson-in-law Roger Talbot. Her pallbearers will be her grandsons Joseph S. Petro, III, Paul Petro, George Petro, Kenny Petro, and Greg Petro, and her great grandsons Dane Boudreaux, Joshua Talbot and T.J. Delhomme. Honorary pallbearers are her grandson David Koury; her nephews Roland Dominique, George Ashy, Roland Ashy, Mike Venable and Jack Venable; and her nieces, Mary Ann Dominique Ashy, Helen Jo Dominique, Charlotte Dominique Giroir, Linda Dominique, Elizabeth Dominique, Maxine Dominique Voorhies, Louise Dominique Molbert, Veronica Dominique Hamilton, Rita Mae Venable Hebert, Martha Ann Venable, Janie Venable, and Frieda Venable. The music will include songs performed by Jodi Bollich and the organist is Karen Guidry. A rosary will be prayed by her regular Wednesday evening family prayer group at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at Delhomme Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 and again on Thursday, February 8, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of funeral. The family would like to thank the many people who assisted them during Florida's time of illness; Dr. S. Kothapalli, his nurse, Bonnie, and his receptionist, Brandy. Dr. Juan Zeik, Dr. Ziad Ashkar, Dr. Jacque Noel, III, Dr. Kenneth Champagne, Dr. Gary Guidry, Dr. Mike Mounir, Dr. Jaime Cardova, Dr. Hector Robles, Dr. Francis Boustany, Dr. Frank Bacque, the staff from Lamm Home Health especially Patsy Johnson, and Eucharistic minister Jeff Gueno. They would also like to thank her personal caregivers; Mrs. Francis Feast, Ms. Julia Roy, Mrs. Yvonne Johnlouis, and Mrs. Maydell McZeal. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be given in Florida D. Petro's name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. Personal condolences may be sent to the Petro family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of all funeral arrangements.

Florida Dominique Petro

March 28, 1910 - February 5, 2007