Kathryn Chastant Watkins

St. Martinville A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 pm, on Friday, February 21, 2014, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, for Kathryn Chastant Watkins, 81, who passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2014, at Iberia Medical Center with her family by her side. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 2:30 pm until 10:00 pm on Thursday, and continuing at 8:00 am until 1:30 pm on Friday, at Pellerin Funeral Home in St. Martinville. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm on Thursday. Fr. Austin Leger will concelebrate with Fr. Edward Degeyter and Fr. John Buddy Breaux at the Funeral Mass. Scriptures will be read by Gayle Thorne and Brenda Stevens. Gift Bearers will be Nicole Watkins, Susan Douet, Betty Broussard, Rachel Dupuis, Tammy Prados, Rose Braquet and Marcy Chastant. Entombment will follow at St. Michael Mausoleum in St. Martinville. Kathryn was born and raised in Loreauville and moved to St. Martinville where she shared her life with her devoted husband and raised her children. Prior to her retiring, Kathryn worked as a dental assistant, a clerk at Tee Wee Shoppe, and a pharmacy technician at Fournets Drug Store and Dupois Drug Store. She helped moms with their new born babies and many in the community with the help of her boss of many years, the late Sidney Dupois. Kathryn was a devout Catholic who prayed the Rosary daily. She was actively involved in her church parish of St. Martin de Tours, serving as a Catholic Youth Group Leader and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She was a military wife and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and the American Legion. Kathryn enjoyed volunteering and spent numerous hours offering her time and assistance at the St. Martinville Nursing Home. She loved camping with her family and following her grandkids to the various activities they participated in and guided them to the adults they are today by her example. Kathryn was proud to be a Mama Tiger and was thought of as an Honorary Mother and Grandmother to many. She had three girls she considered her Wednesdays Child, Tricia Hammon, Billy Broussard Theriot and Michelle Tauzin, and we thank them for the many smiles you brought to her. She is survived by her devoted and loving husband of 63 years, Wade Watkins of St. Martinville; her son, Kirk Watkins and wife, Jeannie, of Hammond; three daughters, Phyllis Watkins Castille and husband, John, of Parks, Patty Watkins Boudreaux and husband, Scott, of St. Martinville, and Lori Watkins Hurst and husband, Richard, of Youngsville; two brothers, Norman Chastant and wife, Joyce, of Loreauville, and Richard "Dickie" Chastant and wife, Shirley, of Iowa; two sisters, Margaret Chastant Broussard and Jackie Chastant Sandoz, both of New Iberia; two sisters-in-law, Rose Chastant Braquet of Loreauville, and Juliette Chastant Lee of Houston, TX; six grandchildren Sean Castille, Clint Castille, Jeremy Watkins and wife, Nicole, Amy Watkins, Jamie Watkins, and Christian Hurst; and two great grandchildren, Nicholas Watkins and Luke Watkins, and her exchange student granddaughter, Klara Kall, of Sweden. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward "Zeg" and Felicie Bourgeois Chastant; two brothers, Warren and Raymond "Eboo" Chastant; and one sister, Loretta Chastant Prados. Pallbearers will be Kirk Watkins, John Castille, Scott Boudreaux, Richard Hurst, Sean Castille, Clint Castille, Jeremy Watkins, and Christian Hurst. Honorary pallbearers will be Nicolas Watkins, Luke Watkins, Norman Chastant, Billy Chastant, Buddy Chastant, Richard Chastant, Gregory Prados, Dale Prados, Stuart Sandoz, Bryan Broussard, Clint Cormier, Joey Bienvenu, Kyle Stevens, Fulton Broussard, Tommy Greig, Jason Garritt and Gerald Delahoussaye. Kathryn touched many in the community and was very active and involved in so many lives. To know her was to love her and never forget her. She guided many in the Youth Group, but she brought that same strength and passion to her family, teaching them all about God and to give of your self. Kathryn never sought recognition and was very humble in all she did. She was quick to pick up the pieces for all of her nieces and nephews in their times of need. She was the grandmother to all of their children at one time or another and was quick to become the favorite aunt because of her guidance and time she gave to all. She never forgot a birthday or a special occasion. She was a loyal and trusted friend to all and her compassion was as big as her heart. Kathryn was never afraid of hard work and long hours. And if you were lucky enough to get a $2 bill from her you were special. Her faith in God came out in everything she did. She never strayed in her belief that one day she would serve in Heaven and we are lucky to know that we have an angel there now of our own. All who knew her were lucky to call her aunt, friend, neighbor, coworker, sister, sister-in-law, Mama Kat, Maw Kat and most importantly Mama and Granny. She was the most remarkable woman and the toughest lady with a class act who was okay to call you if you strayed away from Gods way. She will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege to know her. We are humbled by the strength she demonstrated during these last few weeks. Wade was proud to call her his wife. Her children were proud to call her Mama and her grandchildren were proud to call her their Granny. Our family would like to thank her team of doctors and the staff at Iberia Medical Center, especially the staff in LTAC and ICU, for their hard work and dedication to our mother during her time of need. We would like to also thank the staff of Dr. Carl Ditchs office for being there every step of the way during her battle with pneumonia and the complications that came with it. Their skill and compassion were a great comfort to our family. We would also like to thank all who came and sat with our mother and held her hand and gave her her best comfort of all the power of prayer. You all know who you are, and so do we and it will never be forgotten. To all who called, left messages or sent prayers we thank you. We would also like to take this time to say a special thank you to Betty Broussard who was Kathryns loyal neighbor and friend for over 55 years and who walked this journey with her, also, to her loyal neighbor Bertha Willis for her friendship and dedication for 45 years. Your friendships were cherished immensely by our mother. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville, 112 New Market St., St. Martinville, LA 70582, (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Kathryns name to the City of St. Martinville Veterans Memorial Wall, PO Box 379, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337-394-2230). To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com