My Grandma Duplantis..."Maw-Maw"

New Iberia – Funeral services will be conducted for Mrs. John Emery Duplantis, Sr., the former Doris Barras, 81, on Friday, September 7, 2012, at 11:00 AM at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church with Father Ed Degeyter and Father Edward Duhon officiating. Entombment will follow in Nativity of Our Lady Mausoleum.

Visitation will be on Thursday, September 6, 2012, from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM and resume on Friday, September 7, 2012 from 8:00 AM until services. A rosary will be prayed in the funeral home on Thursday at 6:30 PM.

A native of St. Martinville and a resident of New Iberia, Mrs. Duplantis died on Monday, September 3, 2012 at 9:15 PM in a New Iberia hospital. Doris was a graduate of Our Lady of Mercy High School. She was a loving mother not only to her children but to anyone around her. She was known for her deep faith and strong family values. Family gatherings were the most important to her. She enjoyed the total chaos when everyone was together. Being a military wife meant travels across the country, and with nine children (and an assortment of animals at times) was quite a challenge and often stated that she could have written a book. She truly enjoyed these challenges and made the best of times for her family.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John Emery Duplantis, Sr. of New Iberia; her children, Anne D. Lovato and her husband Mark of Murray, Utah, Mary “Kathy” D. Musumeche and her husband David of New Iberia, Christine “Chris” D. Grudzien and her husband Richard of Deer Island, Oregon, John “Jed” Duplantis, Jr. and his wife Bonnie, Vickie D. Landry and her husband Faron all of New Iberia, Philip “Phil” Duplantis and his wife Ellen of Cleveland, Mississippi, Anita D. McCoy and her husband Howard of New Iberia, Keith Duplantis and his wife Joni of Pineville and Paul Duplantis and his wife Larua of New Iberia; her sister, Janice B. Elias of New Iberia; her brother, Norman Barras of Texas and her special sisters, Tiuana Williams, Jackie Thompson and Lucreutia Augustine.

She is also survived by 29 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wilfred and Lorena Broussard Barras; her brothers, Gerald and Marvis Barras; her sister, Lois B. Cunningham and her grandson, Nicholas Duplantis and several special angels.

Pallbearers will be Travis Duplantis, Patrick McCoy, Steven Musumeche, Jacob Musumeche, Matthew Musumeche, Ray Romero lll, Cory Duplantis and Corey Trim.

Honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters and “Outlaws”.

Well.  There it is.  My grandma's obituary.  I thought the day would never come, well, I mean I knew it would...but I guess I was in denial.  When someone is gone it really hits you, and it is quite shocking.  I read through the words and it becomes real.  However, an obituary is a short summary of a life, a few facts, some interesting tidbits.  The person is so much more than that.  There are so many memories, so many emotions. I felt like I had to blog so that I remember everything and no detail goes forgotten.  I want my children to know about the wonderful people that were my grandparents.  

So, as stated in the obituary, my mother was one of nine children.  My grandmother lost her arm at the age of 18.  She didn't let that stop her. My grandfather was in the Air Force and they traveled all over the world.  I couldn't imagine having that many kids, in strange cities with NO family.  My mom was born in Florida and they moved every two years or so after that, one stop was in Clearfield, Utah where my mom (at 15) met my dad.  Then they moved to the Phillipines, my parents kept a long distance relationship. My grandpa retired shortly after my mom got married because he didn't want to be dropping kids all over the country.  That left me and my family in Utah.  My dad's family is here-so thank goodness for that.  The rest of the Duplantis herd (with the exception of my Aunt Chris who married and moved to Oregon) to settle down in the South.  I am sure it has been hard for my mom for the past 42 years to be away from her mom and siblings but she learned how to be tough from the best.  My mom stayed home to raise us and my father was in the education business.  This meant summers were free.  Every couple or so years as a kid, we would go down there for a visit. Sometimes we would fly, sometimes we would drive. It was always a blast.  We would stay almost the entire summer.  I like to think that I would pack years of visits into those summers.  I always have felt close to my grandparents and my family down there even though we are far away. I have always had a special get-a-way, and I have learned how valuable family is and I definitely do not take it for granted.  When I met Matt his family used to get together all the time; holidays and birthdays and such and I LOVED it.  It was just like my family in Louisiana.  I've always had an appreciation for it.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from my memories of the past.  This picture must have been from when they came up for a visit.  It is June 1979.  This is a rare shot because I am with BOTH of my grandmothers....I think this may be the one and only time.  Look what a cute little booger I am!

 **Forgive me if I have dates wrong or out of order**

I know one time we got together we took family pictures.  Everyone at one time or another (or they still might) have a shot of this hanging up in their house.  There are also pictures of each of the grandkids and each of the families.  SO much has changed...but these pictures are still fun to look at.  I remember this day.  If my memory serves me right...I don't believe any of the boys had pants on underneath their suit coats.  Here are all nine of their kids.  The next time they all got together for pictures was 1998.  I wish I had copies of those photos.  

In my memories, my grandma is always laughing. My grandpa is always telling stories.  They were married for 62 years.  How amazing is that?  They have taught me a lot about love and about never giving up. 

 A beautiful lady, inside and out.

I think this picture was taken around that time...this is my grandma's kitchen.  Every get together was always filled with food.  SUCH good food. 

Another shot from around that time.  Look how little I look.  I am right by my Maw-Maw.  I always thought I was one of the favorites (maybe we all thought we were). 

My Uncle Keith's wedding.  I love this picture of the two of them and I love my grandma in this pink dress. 

My Grandma with my Aunt Kathy and my Uncle Phil.  

Here we are after going out to eat one night on a trip.  HOWDY FOLKS!

 A picture from a visit, I think that was in the airport.  Good-byes were always so hard!

When I graduated from High School for my senior trip I headed to Louisiana.  It was my first trip alone.  

We had gone in 1992-that was my last trip until 1996.  We also had a family trip in 1998.  I took Matt there for the first time in 1999.  We went again in 2000.  My mom and sisters and I went in 2002 and then Matt and I went there again later on in 2002.  We also visited in 2004 with baby Lauren.  We went in 2008 with a baby Jamie and then my last visit was in 2011. 

Here we are in 1996. 

 My cute grandparents in 1996, I believe. 

 Matt and I celebrated our one year anniversary in Louisiana.  My mom had moved back "home" for about a year in 1998-1999.  This was before 9/11/2011.  When she flew back to Utah it was cheaper to get round trip tickets...so she had her return flight back to Louisiana scheduled as late as she possibly could make it..about six months after she came back.  SO...she has these 3 tickets and we thought we would use them to go back to Louisiana.  My mom and sisters checked in and Matt, Ashley and me got on the plane (told ya-before 9/11).  When my mom lived there she had bought a car, so our plan was to drive it back for her.  The car broke down in Texas but that is a whole other story.  We enjoyed our visit very much. Everytime we go down there everyone always made us feel special.  

For two weeks in 2002, Matt let me go to Louisiana while he painted our house.  My mom and sisters came too and we celebrated Easter there.  It was like Christmas.  It was so crazy and so much fun!

Three of my favorites in 2002. My Aunt Kathy, my cousin Jacob, and Maw-Maw. 

My mom, Sarah, Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw and me in that 2002 trip.  *PS for all of you non-southerners who might be reading this...everyone in Louisiana call their grandparents "Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw".  I thought it was our special nickname, but it isn't, everyone does it. There is a story that after a Louisiana trip when my brother was little he called my dads parents "Meh-Meh" and "Pa Pa" and the names stuck...we call them that to this day. 

In 2008 Matt and I and the kids...along with my mom and sisters went to Louisiana for Easter.  This picture shows how fun and crazy we are.  Here are just a FEW of the female cousins. 

My one and only FOUR GENERATION picture.  So precious.  I love it.  Look at my little 4 year old Lauren. March 2008.

As the years went by it seemed harder to get to Louisiana...with kids, and work, and life (and how expensive it is to fly).  However, something was telling me that I needed to go see my grandparents.  Matt agreed to send me...JUST me...for a few days in October.  I was excited to go and see my family again after almost four years away.  I was lucky enough to see them each and every day of my trip.  Precious time. This picture was taken the day I arrived. My grandma had taken a bad fall on her bad arm a little bit before I got there, that is why it was all wrapped up.


It was also my cousin Margo's wedding, I LOVE this picture SOOO much!!  Margo looked beautiful and I love my grandparent's expressions!


My grandma at the church...in a pretty pink dress.


The three of us at the wedding.


In all my years I have never been there for my grandma's birthday.  I was there for her last one.  Such a kid at heart still.  She changed the 81 to say 18. LOL!


She cracked me up as she opened her presents.  One of her presents were some new bras.  Which she promptly spun over her head.  So funny! I was really honored to be there!


Saying goodbye is always the hardest...because I never knew when it would be the last time, this time it was.  This was the night before I left.  

I have so many memories wrapped up in their house, and little has changed over the years.  In their bedroom are the senior pictures of all of their kids.  I have always loved to look at these.  My mom (the first picture) looked so pretty in her picture!! 

I also had to get a shot of their house and all the cars parked there.  Parking right on the grass-they do that in Louisiana!  

The main bathroom has been pink as long as I can remember it!  It always smelled like Irish Spring soap!

In the back bedroom, where I usually stayed...there was also a bathroom with this huge tub.  I LOVED this tub sooo much!  This bathroom also used to have a heat lamp light that would turn the room red.  It was always kinda cool and kinda scary to me.

It was such a great trip, one I will always remember.  I will always be thankful that Matt let me go.  I didn't take any of the time for granted.  My heart is full of memories of then, and of times in the past.

Here are a few things I will always remember.

*Even though I lived far away and even though I am one of almost 25 grandkids, I always felt special, I always felt loved.  

*The way that she answered the telephone... "yellow".  

*She loved those orange circus peanuts.

*She used to make homemade rootbeer...so good.

*When I used to come in the summertime she used to have a big bag of Dolly Madison powdered donuts...just for me.

*She had an entire cupboard of  "Little Debbie" snacks. It was the coolest thing ever as a kid. Every time I see a Little Debbie box, I instantly think of her (and her neverending sweet tooth).

*I remember my grandma's gas stove...the clicking it made.  In my new house, I was so excited to have a gas stove, just like my grandma....it reminds me of her so much.

*Christmas has always been a big deal...and every year we draw names and every year they buy presents for EVERY SINGLE person in the family...and that is a LOT of people. Until just recently, they were also sending birthday cards to everyone as well.

*One time she taught me how to make breakfast...I still remember and use her tips.  One of them was to add a little dash of milk to the scrambled eggs to make it mix better.  Another one was that when you microwave bacon-it is one minute for every piece.  (Gee...seems like a lot of my memories are food related).

*Her house always smelled like fresh laundry. I swear there was always a load going. 

*For the longest time, all dishes were done by hand.  One year everyone got her a dishwasher, she cried and they took it back.  To this day, I LOVE washing dishes...it reminds me of being there.  Eventually she did get a dishwasher.  It still kinda makes me giggle.

*I remember when Lauren met my grandma in 2008, I really hadn't talked to Lauren about my grandma only having one arm.  When Lauren was talking to her one day, she told my grandma that she was like Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants.  Instead of my grandma getting embarrassed, she just laughed.  It was never really that big of a deal to just have one arm, it was just the way she was.

*Like I said, I always remember her laughing.  She always seemed happy.  She seemed the most alive around people, she loved to take care of others, she always made everyone feel special.  I have learned so much from her and I can only hope that I can be as wonderful a person as she was.

One last story:

This year for mother's day my mom wanted to give my grandma something special.  She wanted me to make my grandma a rosary.  I gave my mom a choice of beads and she chose the most expensive beads, I literally spent $75 in beads and for a cross large enough to look good with the beads.  My mom was very specific on what she wanted.  I hope that she liked what I came up with.  I hope my grandma liked what I made.  It  warms my heart to know that she was buried with the rosary that I made.

I really wanted to go to the funeral, but when looking at tickets they were very expensive.  I knew in my heart I could not go. It would be too hard with the kids just starting school and all.  My mom was able to go and I am glad for that, but I worried about her going all alone.  I am pretty close to my cousin Nicki and I asked her to give my mom extra hugs for me.  My cousin gave me play by plays.  My boss was nice enough to give me the day of the viewing off.  Nicki called me during the rosary and Matt and I and the kids listened and said the rosary with them...it made me feel like I was there in spirit.  It was a bittersweet day.   She also gave me updates about the funeral on the day of.  I will forever be grateful for her time.

Well, that is my tribute.  I am sure that more memories will hit me after I post this.  She has been gone two weeks tonight.  There is a little hole in my heart.  I am sure the real impact will not hit me until my next trip down to Louisiana and she is just, not there.  One thing I know...life is short, family is precious.  Take nothing for granted.