Willa Simon

Kaplan—We regretfully announce the passing of Willa Simon, 100, on July 13, 2024. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Vincent Funeral Home in Kaplan honoring her life. She will be laid to rest at Abshire Cemetery in Cossinade with Deacon Tom Sommers officiating the services.

Visiting hours will be observed at Vincent Funeral Home in Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 from 8:00 AM until services begin at 2:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 10:00 AM.

Willa was one of the strongest women to ever walk this earth and our family was blessed to have her as the head of the family. A month shy of 101, she was born in a time of dirt roads and few luxuries in life.

During her life she owned Simon’s Bar and Kaplan Bakery. Always active, she loved nothing more than to be in her garden and build things, seldom to be seen without a paintbrush in her hand. She was a wonderful and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who gave her all to her family. We will never be able to fill the space left behind by her.

She leaves behind four children, John and his wife, Diane, of Lafayette, James and his wife, Faye, of DeRidder, Jimmy of Kaplan, and Deborah and her husband Jeremy of Kaplan; three siblings, Marylee Meaux, Dorothy Simon, and Allen Simon; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude Simon, Sr. and Louise Meaux Trahan; her son, Shelton Duhon; seven siblings, Rodney Simon, Horace Simon, Houston Simon, Wilfred Simon, Claude Simon, Jr. and Margaret Simon Broussard.

Her family would like to thank the staff at Pelican Pointe Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Maurice, Louisiana for the care and love they gave their mother.