Ethel Louise Kaffie Robeau

Ethel Louise Kaffie Robeau passed away on December 7, 2016 at the age of 92. She was born on October 27, 1924 in Natchitoches; the only child of Harold Kaffie and Marie Louise Kelsoe Kaffie. Ethel graduated valedictorian from Natchitoches High School in 1941, and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri; and the University of Texas at Austin. She married Joseph Edward Robeau Jr in 1944; and after his return from military service during World War II, she resided in Houston, TX for 30 years; after which they returned to Natchitoches for the remainder of her life. Ethel was a strong supporter of numerous animal rescue societies, and never failed to take in a stray cat when the opportunity presented itself on her doorstep. She was a supporter and member of the Natchitoches Historical Society. She also was an avid supporter of her husband’s and son’s athletic activities, including baseball and water sports. She cherished the skills of dancer Fred Astaire and singer Frank Sinatra, accumulating an impressive and complete library of their video/audio recordings. Ethel is survived by her husband of 72 years, Joseph Edward Robeau JR; and their two sons, Joseph Edward Robeau, III and his wife Beverly McNeil of Port Townsend, WA, and Richard Mark Robeau and his wife Barbara of San Antonio, TX; and her sister-in-law Yvonne Robeau Manaley of Houston, TX. The family wishes to express its sincerest gratitude, for their loving assistance and friendship, to Luke and Lori Frederick; and to Sydney Frederick, Gary DeBlieux, and Sonny & Evelyn Evans for their friendship and support. The family also wishes to thank the following for all the wonderful assistance provided during her lengthy illness: Dr. Kathleen Kautz, Glenda Guillet and the other nurses of Hospice of Natchitoches, and her principle caregiver Marie LaCour. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Natchitoches Animal Shelter, or the Louisiana or American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [LSPCA or ASPCA], to carry on Ethel’s legacy of caring for animals in need. A service to honor her life will be held at 10 am Saturday, December 10, 2016 at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Memory Lawn Cemetery of Natchitoches. The family will receive friends from 5pm until 6 pm on Friday, December 9th at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home with recitation of the Holy Rosary to begin at 6 pm.