Rose May Thibeaux

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, November 7, 2011 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Rose May Thibeaux, 89, who passed away on November 4, 2011 at 12:20 am at Courtyard Manor. Reverend Luiz C. Dutra will conduct the funeral services. Burial will take place in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Thibeaux, a resident of Lafayette, was the daughter of the late Frank Joseph Ticac of St. James Parish, Louisiana and the former Rose Vice of Morgan City, Louisiana. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Mrs. Thibeaux was born in Baton Rouge, LA, graduated with honors from St. Edmund's High School in Eunice, LA in 1938; graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now ULL) in 1942 with a B.A. degree in English and Library Science. She began a 25-year teaching career in Dequincy, LA. During World War II, she worked at North American Aviation, Inc. in Dallas. She married John E. 'Tib' Thibeaux, her college sweetheart in 1945. They had one daughter, three sons and one grandson. She had been a resident of Lafayette for the past 65 years. Maizie had been very active in the Acadiana community. She was chair-person of her Neighborhood Watch Program, an instruction of summer school religion; chairperson of the patriotic essay program for a local Knights of Columbus Council. She had been active with the Heart Fund, Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis Programs. She had served as publicity chairperson for the Society of Louisiana Irises and was a member of the Lafayette Garden Club. (Sidelight: a hybridized and registered iris, named 'May Thibeaux' in her honor was shipped to the Yves Saint Laurent's Estate Garden in Paris, France: Coincidentally the Vincent Van Gogh painting of irises inspired the selection of the iris as the flower for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. Maizie's iris is a ruffled edged brilliant yellow flower.) In 1965, the Lafayette Youth Council named her 'Teacher of the Year'. She was recommended for membership in Outstanding Leaders in Elementary and Secondary Education and recognized by the United Cerebral Palsy Association for her work with that organization. Maizie was a member of the Bread of Life Prayer Group at St. Mary's Church, a member of the Louisiana Retired Teacher Association, the Lafayette Parish Retired Association, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the golden Age Club of Lafayette. Maizie was founder and volunteer director of the family support group, Families & Friends Alliance of the Mentally Ill. She was an associated editor of FFAMI'S newsletter, 'Echoes'. She had served as a board member of the Mental Health Association in Lafayette Parish. In 1983, Maizie was selected by the State Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse to attend the National Sixth Learning Conference in Alexandria, VA In 1984, she was recognized by the Acadiana Caucus as one of seven Acadiana women who have made significant contributions to Acadiana history. Maizie was a member of the National Alliance for Mentally Ill and served as co-chairperson of the Anti-stigma Award Display at an annual national conference of NAMI. She has represented the local Families & Friends AMI in Boston, Colorado and Washington, DC. She was a member of the LSU Mental Health Networking Project Council of the School of Social Work, was a guest speaker at the Governor's Conference on the Psychologically Handicapped, and has spoken to the graduate social work students at LSU. Maizie initiated the mental health award program for pioneers of mental health and the special observance of mental health month in May. She helped organize support groups in Lake Charles and Houma and was a charter member of the Louisiana Alliance for the Mentally Ill. 1986 ' Award of Gratitude from Families & Friends Alliance for the Mentally Ill 1986 ' A Pioneer of Mental Health Award from the Mental Health Association 1987 ' Co-recipient of the Volunteer Year Award given by the Rehabilitation Division of the State of Louisiana in Baton Rouge 1989 ' Co-recipient of the Acadiana Volunteer Activist Award in Lafayette 1989 ' Co-recipient of the Award from the advocacy Center of the Elderly and Disabled in New Orleans 1990 ' A commendation for Service from the Senate of the Louisiana Legislature 1990 ' Outstanding Citizen Plaque from WOW 1991 ' A special Citation from the American Association of Retired Persons in Appreciation for 'Outstanding Service to the Community' 1991 ' 'Points of Light' Letter of Recognition from Barbara Bush 1992 ' Award for Outstanding NAMI Member for exemplary dedication of improving the lives of persons with severe mental illness. She is survived by three sons, John E. Thibeaux, II of Simmsport, LA, Thomas A. Thibeaux of Lafayette, LA and Frank J. Thibeaux and wife Maggie of Lafayette, LA; one grandchild, John Bertrand DeBlanc and wife Jillian of Austin, TX; and her son-in-law, Daniel D. DeBlanc of Lafayette, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John Ernest "Tib" Thibeaux; her daughter, Susan Jeanne DeBlanc; and her two sisters, Laura Elba Papp and Marie Louise "Dolly" Brewer. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Monday, November 7, 2011 from 8:00 AM until time of services. The family would like to thank the staffs at Courtyard Manor and Hospice of Acadiana for their care and compassion during Maizie's brief illness. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Rose May Thibeaux

May 9, 1922 - November 4, 2011