Dorita Cenance Prade

St. Martinville - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, July 5, 2024, at Notre Dame Catholic Church for Dorita Cenance Prade, 96, who passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at her residence. 

A visitation will take place at the funeral home in St. Martinville on Friday from 7:00 am until 10:30 am. 

A Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 am on Friday morning. 

Rev. Abelardo Gabriel, SVD will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery. 

Dorita Marguerite Georgiana Annette Cenance was born on June 10th, 1928, in New Orleans, Louisiana as the first-born of George and Olga Cenance. She grew up between the 7th ward and Treme off of Conti Street. She learned baking from her grandmother Jennie Broussard Gordon who was originally from St. Martinville but moved to New Orleans as an early age for work. One day, while visiting her best friends Theresa Robertson Dundas and Dr. Mazel Bourda Neveu - she met, fell in love, and married Howard Prade before he went to WWII. She made St. Martinville her forever home. 

She earned a living by being the Head Baker for many years at Adam Carson Junior High. She loved to cook and was great at it. She always tried to feed someone while they visited. She made the best Kool-aid! She ran her household like a miniature army of 5 sons: Eldridge, Stephen, Tommy, Jerry, and Howard Jr (All boys). As the Queen of the house - she was known as the Lieutenant General: very dedicated to her family, strict but fair, ran a tight ship - She adored them all! 

She loved to decorate their home inside and out for all holidays! Her favorite time of year was Carnival Time. She loved to show off her decorations in which she still decorated up until she turned 94. Yes, that meant going up in the attic by ladder to get boxes by herself. She also still drove her car at that age. Somehow, she had to always show someone how "young" she was by doing so, and showing how she can still bend down and touch her toes. Throughout the years, she always kept children entertained along with her nieces and nephews because she would have all the latest board and electronic games, kites, balls, marbles, hula hoops, and coloring books. Years later, when the grandchildren would arrive, the house would be full of sounds of pitter-patter of little feet almost everyday - because her grandchildren also loved going to the house spending the day whenever they could. She was a "the more the merrier" kind of person, so prepared for extra people that she would bring extra gifts and make community baskets just in case extra would visit for the holidays. 

She was a woman of grace, dignity, and style a real fashionista who was very proud of her 9 closets. She was very independent- She didn't want anyone trying to help her do anything especially to prove a point that she can do anything she wants and when she wants to. She will always be a cherished member of the community and a long-time parishioner of Notre Dame Catholic Church. She left behind a legacy of kindness, stubbornness, strength, laughter, and resilience - she definitely did things her way or no way at all! She was compassionate and would give anyone any help they needed. She definitely touched the lives of all who knew her but get one thing straight...She never took any mess! If you had a chance to really know her, you would know, although she was very tough - she loved each and every friend and family member that crossed her path. How much more blessed can a person be? 

She is survived by her sons, Eldridge Prade (Florence), Stephen Prade (Barbara), and Howard Prade, Jr. (Marie); daughter-in-law, Gertrude Prade; sister, Mary Della Steward; grandchildren, Brent Prade (Ramanda), April Prade, Stephanie Papillion (Stefen), Stacy Williams (Chris), Blake Prade, Tyra Lemelle (Lanford), Tommy Prade, Jr., Tyler Prade, Jermaine Prade and Marley Prade; 23 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; god-daughters, Henrietta Broussard, Janet Carson and Prey August; and god-son, Dean Latiolais. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Howard Prade, Sr.; sons, Tommy Prade, Sr. and Jerry Prade; grandchildren, Bobby Prade and Cassandra Francis; extra son, Gregory LeBlanc; parents, George Cenance and Olga Gordon Cenance; brothers, James Cenance, Henry Cenance, Milton Dupart and Raymond Dupart; and her special friends, Dot Francois, Grace Hebert, Dr. Mazel Neveu, Dorothy Nelson, Theresa Dundas, and Earl Dundas, Sr.

Pallbearers will be Brent Prade, Jermaine Prade, Tommy Prade, Jr., Marley Prade, Landon Roberts and James Cenance, Jr. 

Honorary Pallbearers will be Eldridge Prade, Stephen Prade, Howard Prade, Jr., Blake Prade and Tyler Prade. 

Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements.