Mom of Kaitlin Venissat says her daughter was the perfect child

GUEYDAN - Kaitlin Elizabeth Venissat was what some considered the perfect child.
Her mother Rhonda Leger Venissat would agree.
“She is the perfect kid,” said Rhonda on Sunday night. “I loved her personality, because she could laugh at herself. That meant a lot to me.”
The last words Rhonda spoke to her daughter was when she was leaving to go out with friends that Friday night.
“When she walked out the door, she said, ‘I love you momma.’ I responded, ‘I love you.’” said the mother
Sunday night, friends, family and strangers gathered at Gueydan High School to honor Venissat for the short life she lived.
Venissat died Friday night in a single car accident. She was a passenger in a car driven by her friend, 18-year-old Kaitlyn Thevis of Gueydan. She was driving south on Alvie Road, a gravel road, and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle struck a ditch and flipped.
Venissat was ejected and sustained fatal injuries. Thevis and a third occupant were not injured in the accident.
She leaves behind her parents Russel and Rhonda Leger Venissat. Kaitlin was a cheerleader, as well as a member of the band at Gueydan High. Kaitlin was also a member of the Beta Club.
On Sunday, starting at 5 p.m., the Gueydan community began pouring into the Gueydan football stadium for a special vigil to honor Venissat’s life.
Rhonda stood at the entrance, greeting and hugging each person walking into the stadium.
Each person was given a candle and lined the track.
Rhonda said the community of Gueydan, her best friend, Kim LeBlanc, and family have helped her deal with the loss of her child.
“Like everything else, you have your good and bad moments,” said Rhonda at the vigil. “Everyone has been awesome. Look at the support we have tonight. Everyone knows everyone. Many people knew Kaitlin. They are coming to tell me stories about her. ”
During the vigil, the senior class gathered at mid field on the football field.
“She was taken too quickly,” said senior classmate Holly Hebert. “She was a bubbly and energetic person. She had a brilliant smile with a twinkle in her eye. She will be sadly missed by the entire community. Our hearts will never be the same without her.”
One of Kaitlin’s favorite songs was Luke Bryan’s country song, “We Run this Town.” She nominated it as the 2015 Gueydan High Class Song.
Friday afternoon during school, the seniors voted it the class song. It was played a couple of times during the vigil.
Here are some of the words to Gueydan’s Sr. Class Song, sung by Luke Bryan.

“Seventeen, we owned those streets
Parking lot, that was our spot
That’s where we’d always meet
And we’d roll on out in a pickup truck parade
Stake our claim with a fire in a field in the middle of Nowhere, USA
We’d light the midnight up

[Chorus]
We’d drive too fast
We’d get too loud
We thought we made the world go round
Nothin but a bunch of time to kill
Set up on the big hill
Make a toast, drink it down
Say, yeah man, we run this town

Funeral services will be held at Matthews and Son Funeral Home in Gueydan on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 11 a.m. with Reverend Glenn Bourque officiating. Burial will follow in the Gueydan Cemetery.