Harriet Mae "Toot" Rachal

Funeral service for Harriet Mae “Toot” Rachal will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Monet Ferry, LA, with Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe officiating. Interment will follow at Rachal Cemetery in Marco, LA. The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm with a rosary being said at 7:00 pm on August 6, 2012 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA. Harriet Rachal, 94 years of age, passed away August 4, 2012. Harriet was born October 12, 1917 to the late Rana Rachal and Carrie Rachal in Marco, LA. Mrs. Rachal was devoted to her family and always worked tirelessly to create or make things better in her rural home area of Marco, LA. Because of her tireless efforts, she renewed the Rachal Cemetery Organization, and petitioned Bishop Jacobs for the Church Hall after the St. John Catholic Church was closed. Petition was granted and a Marco Community Senior Citizen Hall which holds numerous family gatherings, reunions and special events. This was made possible because of her efforts. After the church was closed, she then went to the Holy Family in Monet Ferry where she showed leadership skills in holding fundraisers and assisting mass. With her tireless energy, she plunged into the making of “Marco” meat pies, not Natchitoches meat pies as she would say, and hot tamales. Hungry grandchildren always knew Maw Maw would feed them. Quilt making was another of her endeavors and many raffles were of her quilts. To Harriet, idleness was not in her vocabulary. Helping and sitting with neighbors was her hospice plan before the plan began. Mrs. Harriet gave of her time or talent to anyone in need. She would also voice her opinion and even in the last few years wanted to be busy helping or working. Up until just a few months ago, she was busy shelling peas, shucking corn, or peeling crawfish; she always wanted to be busy. Her family always marveled at what she did and wondered where her life would have taken her if opportunities had prevailed. She married her husband "Nookie" in 1935, and had six children when times were hard. Picking cotton and pecans were a part of her life. In 1956 she went to work at Central State Hospital, where she met and kept many friends. She was truly a great woman, a life that will not soon be forgotten, and she will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by three sons, Daniel Ray Rachal and wife Tonny of Natchitoches, LA, Michael James Rachal and wife Helen of Marco, LA, and Mark Randall Rachal and wife Debby of Marco, LA; two daughters, Bonnie Lynne Rachal Lee and husband James of Forest Hill, LA and Dianne Louise Rachal Sanchez and husband Ruben of Haughton, LA; grandchildren, Pamela NeSmith, Jackie Hardee, Eric Lee, Jeffery Rachal, Rebecca Stagg, Carla Rachal, Danielle Moran, Randy Rachal, Mary Malone, Elena Theriot, Joe Rachal, Kari Rachal, and Jason Sanchez; thirty-two great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy Faye Delacerda of Pineville, LA; and one brother, Rana Rachal, Jr. She was preceded in death by her husband, James A Rachal, her parents, Rana Rachal and Carrie Rachal; one son, Joseph Albin Rachal; one sister, Marion Vallery; one grandchild, Michael S. Rachal; and three brothers, Felix Rachal, Ernest Rachal, and Leslie Rachal. Those honored to serve as pallbearers will be Jason Sanchez, Joe Rachal, Jeff Rachal, Randy Rachal, Ronnie Wall, and Logan Faust. Honorary pallbearers will be her great grandsons.