Judith Marie Stemmans Gary

December 18, 1928 - January 18, 2022

Judith Marie Stemmans Gary, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 in Lafayette, Louisiana, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren. She was the mother of Linda Gary Jones (Ivan), Catherine Gary Hollier (Stephen) and Edward Joseph Gary (Renée). She was the proud grandmother of Allison Jones Morvant (Jason), Sarah Jones (Lara), Emily Hollier Smith (Jay), Mary Catherine Hollier Dunphy (Brandon), Sean Michael Walley, Bridget Elizabeth Gary, and Charles Edward Gary; great-grandmother of Camille, Benjamin, Evan, Aquay, Zayvion, Jasmine, William, and Ricky. She is also survived by her brother, Donald Charles Stemmans and her beloved nieces and nephew. Mrs. Gary was the daughter of the late Eddie Christopher Stemmans and Marie Begnaud Stemmans. She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 65 years, Sigmund John Gary. Mrs. Gary was born in Carencro and was a graduate of Carencro High School. She loved growing up in Carencro and, while she would later move to Lafayette to obtain her degree from SLI, she loved to tell stories about her childhood in Carencro, like about the day a Louisiana black bear climbed up one of her parents’ pecan trees and the whole town came over to see it. Upon marrying, she became a homemaker and mother. Being a mother, and later a grandmother, was undoubtedly her greatest joy in life. She loved to cook and entertain guests at her home. Mrs. Gary was an active parishioner of St. Jules Catholic Church and a faithful member of the Tanglewood neighborhood rosary group for over 50 years. Mrs. Gary served as a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and was devoted to her faith. She loved all of her neighbors and would make new friends wherever she went. Mrs. Gary was also a beloved member of her Pokeno and card playing groups and loved to teach friends and family how to play her favorite card game. Mrs. Gary loved to be in the kitchen, and she shared her exceptional talent as a cook with everyone who entered her home, preparing countless Sunday dinners, dozens of fruitcake cookies at Christmastime, and baking banana cakes for family gatherings. She also loved to travel across America and did so often with her children, with friends, and especially with Mr. Gary before he passed away. Mrs. Gary’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Ms. Linda Daugherty for the care and companionship she lovingly provided to Mrs. Gary before her passing. Pallbearers will be Jay Evan Smith, Brandon Robert Dunphy, Jason Charles Morvant, Benjamin Percy Morvant, Charles Edward Gary, and Sean Michael Walley. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mrs. Gary’s younger great-grandsons, Evan, Aquay, Zayvion, William, and Ricky. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, January 21, 2022 at St. Jules Catholic Church. Rev. Fr. Cedric Sonnier, Pastor of St. Mary Mother of the Church, will be the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Entombment will be at Evangeline Memorial Gardens Mausoleum – Carencro, LA. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home - Bertrand on Thursday, January 20, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 PM Thursday evening in the funeral home. Visitation will continue Friday morning at 8:00 AM until the time of service. Personal condolences may be sent to Mrs. Gary’s family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Mrs. Judith Stemmans Gary and her family were cared for and entrusted final arrangements to Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA.