A Mass of Christian Burial for Josephine Rose “Josie” Guarino, 93, will be celebrated on Thursday, September 13, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville. She died at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11. Father William Blanda will be the celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Burial will follow in St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Vincent Funeral Home in Abbeville on Thursday, September 13, from 8:00 a.m. until the time of services. A Rosary will be prayed by the Lay Carmelites. Music ministers of the Mass will include choir members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church of Erath and other area churches, accompanied by Dr. Samuel Thibodeaux and directed by Clevie Thibodeaux and Natial d’Augereau. Gift bearers will be Faye and Carlin Trahan, and Norma Dugas will serve as Extraordinary Minister of Communion.
Josephine Guarino was born in Abbeville, Louisiana, on September 23, 1913, to Salvatore “Sam” Guarino and Jennie LaBruzzo Guarino. She graduated from Mount Carmel Academy and received a teaching certificate from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana). She taught elementary school in Perry and Abbeville for 37 years.
Josie was a member of the Ladies Altar Society and the Third Order of Mount Carmel at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville. She enjoyed embroidery, crocheting, and gardening. She loved music and was an excellent pianist.
Survivors include her sisters, Rita Guarino and Mary Ann Guarino, and her brother, Anthony “Tony” Guarino, all of Abbeville; her niece and Godchild, Clevie Thibodeaux of Erath; her nephew, Dr. Samuel Thibodeaux, D.V.M. and his wife Sonia Cahanin Thibodeaux of Erath; three step nephews, Gary Theall and his wife Sandra of Abbeville, Ned Theall, and Carl Theall; a step grand niece, Kourtney Blythe Thibodeaux; and a step great grand niece, Anna Leigh Klaire Thibodeaux.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth “Bessie” Guarino Thibodeaux; her infant sister, Laura Guarino; her sister-in-law, Enid Guarino; and her brother-in-law, Cleve Thibodeaux.
Pallbearers will include Nathan Thibodeaux, Carlin Trahan, and Rodney Dugas.
The family is grateful to Marian Boudreaux, Dorothy Porter, Barbara Mouton, Shirley Briggs, and Phyllis Francis. These wonderful caregivers were loving, kind, and patient, and enriched Josie’s life in a multitude of ways.