Rita Euriest Simon Labry

Kaplan—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church honoring the life of Rita Euriest Simon LaBry, 94, who passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Mark Miley officiating the services.

Mrs. Rita Euriest Simon LaBry, who would have been 95 on February 11th, died peacefully on Wednesday, January 25th after a short bout of Covid.  She has resided at Pelican Pointe Health Care and Rehab for the past 3 years and Bethany Nursing Home and Southwind Nursing Home for 4 1/2 years prior.

Rita Euriest was born in Kaplan, in 1928 to Elisabeth Perry Simon and Alphe’ Simon.  She spent her whole life in her beloved Kaplan, taking a job at 17, as a clerk for the City of Kaplan in order to support herself and her mother, until 1952.  She met her husband in 1946 when he was just back from serving overseas during WWII, and they married in 1948.  They raised three children at 309 N. Hebert Ave., her home since childhood.  She dedicated her life to her mother, her husband of 68 years and her children.  She had a deep, undying faith and was a devout Catholic, with a special devotion to The Blessed Virgin Mary.  Her door was always open to anyone stopping by for a visit and there was always a pot of coffee on and something sweet to offer any visitor.  She was fun and had a wonderful sense of humor, she took time to listen to anyone who needed to talk and was quick to give positive encouragement. She was very loving and had such a beautiful smile and a beautiful soul.  She will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

She is survived by her three children, John LaBry III and his son, Zachary Alexander LaBry,  Kenneth James LaBry, his wife, Pam and their son, Nicholas James LaBry, and Margaret LaBry Wilby and her husband, Peter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Alphe’ Simon; her husband, John LaBry, Jr.; and her three half-sisters, Ena Simon Landry, Edmae Simon Monique, and Cenite Simon.

The family would like to thank all who cared for her these past 7 1/2 years, with special thanks to the CNAs and nurses at Pelican Pointe who loved and cared for her as if she were their own grandmother, and whom she loved so very much.   Also, a very special thank you to Patricia Guidry for all of her help, care and friendship over the past 7 1/2 years.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Catholic Church, 910 N. Frederick Ave., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 from 10:00 AM until the time of the services at 2:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 12:30 PM.