The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-12-08
BELOVED WOMAN GONE.
Mrs. Leon Lewis Barque of Life
Passes Out TO Sea.

0SSSS ~@A Az AsCds
It is with bowed head and heavy
heart that we chronicle the passing
away of one of this eommunity's best
beloved and most widely known wo-
men, Mrs. Leon Levi, who sank into
eternal sIumber at 1916 o'clock a. m.
last Sunday, the End inst, after an
Illness of several months duration.
The end came peacefully and painless
Iy, with loved ones gathered about the
bedside, and as her weary eyes closed
in the last sleep the patient sufferer
knew that those she loved so dearly
and who loved her were there, stead
fast though in the presence of the
Grim Angel, and as loath to part with
her in death as they had been to be
away from her presence in life.
Mrs. Levi, nee Laure Richard, was
the daughter of Mrs. and the late Ar
mand Richard, and was native and
lifelong resident of this community.
1t is hard to find words to describe
so winning and lovable a personality
as was hers. Endowed with nature
that radiated sincerity and kindness;
gifted with the understanding heart;
blessed with that rare insight which
overlooks the imperfections of our
frail mortality, she valiantly persisted
in seeing only the sunny side of life
and the nobler side of humanity.
Warm-hearted, courteous, gentle and
considerate, she found in everyone a
friend. Joyous-hearted as child, al
ways cheerful and gracious, she was
a constant source of delight and in
spiration to all who knew her.
Whatever her hands found to do,
she did it we'll; wherever duty called
her, her service was given freely and
cheerfully. When laid low by illness,
she who for years had given SO much
of herself to others, now had to be
ministered to. In the chamber of suf-
fering her last days were passed, and
there those dear to her went softly
back and forth, feeling the influence
and strength of the sweet spirit that
triumphed over pain, while her friends
near and far followed with anxious
hearts each shifting turn in her sad
decline. Now she is gone from earth ];
there is the vacant chair, and hearts
are aching for s'the touch of vanish
ed hand and the sound of voice that
is still" The record is one of deep
bereavement; happy home made
desolate, gloomy shadows are granted
around the hearth which only a short
while since was cheered and brighten
ed by the loving presence of devoted
wife and genial companion.
Her remains were tenderly laid to
rest in the Catholic cemetery Sunday
afternoon, following impressive ser
vices at Ascension Church, Rev. Faith
err C. M. Chambon officiating. The
number of those who laid aside their
personal cares and came to pay the
last sad tribute of respect to their de-
ceased friend bore the strongest pos
sible testimony to her wide popularity
and the profound measure OF grief
caused by her demise. Fragrant
flowers covered the easket, and many
tear glistened upon these mute but
beautiful tokens of love and sympathy
as the portal of the tomb closed upon
her eternal resting place.
Mrs. Levi is survived by her devot--
ed husband, whose tender care and
self-sacrifcing solieitude throughout
their married life and during the pro
tracted period Of her last illness was
a most touching example Of conjugal
affection. Her mother, Mrs. Armand
Richard; one brother, George Il. RI
chard, chief deputy sheriff Of Ascen-
sion parish, and three sisters, Mrs. j:
e. Blum, Mrs. James S. Barnan and
Mrs. J. j. Lafargue, are also left to
mourn the loss of this noble woman.
We can only remind these mourners
that behind the storn-cloud is the r.
ridescent rainbow. Darkness precedes
the dawning, and out of the blackness
of the night comes the JOY and sun.
shine of the day. From the beauty OF
her life, let those who are left take
inspiration to go forth and live as she
lived, that when the final summons
comes to them, as come it must to all,
they may say as did she, "All is Well
and approach the grave 'slike one who
wraps the drapries of his couch about
him, and lies down to pleasant
dreams"