Glenda Pelletier

Glenda Day Pelletier, born October 31, 1933, passed away quietly at her home on Friday, January 2, after an extended illness. Glenda was born in Lake Charles and was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Helen Day, who owned and operated Day’s Café in Lake Charles for 41 years. Her earliest memories of ‘The Shop’ included its predecessor (The Owens’ Lunchroom) that was opened initially by her mother and Minnie Owens, her grandmother. During the war years her parents ran a camp outside of town that served meals to visiting soldiers from Fort Polk and to interred German POW’s who worked in the rice fields of South Louisiana. In 1944 Glenda was diagnosed with Polio and, due to overcrowding at the nearest treatment facility in New Orleans, was cared for at her home by her mother and grandmother utilizing the then controversial ‘Sister Kenny’ method of therapy. Glenda attended Lake Charles High School and was active in a number of school organizations. She was a proud drummer in the famed Kilties drill team and served as President of her Senior Class. After graduating in 1952 she attended McNeese State University where she worked as a secretary/receptionist in the Athletic Department. In 1954 she married James Lewis Pelletier of Sulphur and in 1962 they moved the family to Lafayette. Glenda worked as a homemaker raising their three children and in later years she volunteered for numerous charitable causes and organizations. She was honored to serve as President of the Ladies Auxiliary at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, and was active in the ministries of both St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and The Episcopal Church of the Ascension. Her associations in Lafayette, especially the Olive Branch Ministry at Ascension and the unique gathering of ladies affectionately known as ‘Stitch and Bitch’, were a foundation of strength and love that supported her in her later years. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Drs. Allen and Margaret Pelletier of North Augusta, South Carolina, Karen Pelletier Gerarve and Gerard Gerarve of Harahan, Louisiana and Marc Pelletier and Shannon Skarda of New Orleans; and by her siblings William ‘Bill’ Day (and wife Mary Anne Day), Pauline ‘Bo’ Day Rentrop, Wayne Allen Day and Jane Day Piraro (and husband Martin Piraro) all of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Glenda’s greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren Ken Pelletier and wife Maritza Gualy, Dr. Lisa Pelletier and fiancé Joel Beckett, Daniel Pelletier, Christopher Gerarve, Gerard Gerarve, Jr. and wife Robin, Becky Gerarve Caillouet and husband Jerry, and Stephanie Gerarve, and her great grandchildren Penelope, Sebastian, Gabrielle, Gerard III, Giada, Alexis and Joseph. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 31st at Episcopal Church of the Ascension at 11:00AM with a reception to follow at the church. If they wish, friends may make memorial donations to either The Episcopal Church of the Ascension Olive Branch Ministry or to The Episcopal Church of the Ascension Choir Ministry, 1030 Johnston Street, Lafayette LA 70503. Personal condolences may be sent to the Pelletier family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Glenda Pelletier

October 31, 1933 - January 2, 2015