Barbara Sonnier

Funeral services were held at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2009, for Barbara Ann Johnston Sonnier, age 78, who passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans.

Interment was in Rayne Cemetery, under the direction of Gossen Funeral Home of Rayne.

Mrs. Sonnier, known to her many nieces and nephews as Aunt Bobbie, was very involved in the lives of her family. Her laughter, wit and intriguing stories will be missed by all who loved her.

Mrs. Sonnier was born February 2, 1930, in Rayne, the daughter of William Gladstone Johnston and Celine Landry Johnston. She graduated from Rayne High School and attended the University of Louisiana Lafayette. After working in Washington, D.C., she moved to Houston, Texas, where she worked for many years for Humble Oil, and later MD Anderson Medical Center. In the late sixties she returned to Rayne to help care for her mother. She married Homer Sonnier, who passed away in 1977.

In the 1980s and 90s, Mrs. Sonnier owned and managed the Oil Center Secretarial Service in Lafayette where she and her staff provided professional support services to the Krewe of Gabriel, the Lafayette Medical Association and many other groups and individuals.

After retiring Mrs. Sonnier was devoted to her family, always willing to help those who were in need of assistance. She delivered meals through the Meals on Wheels program, as well as provided her time and energy to family members who were homebound.

Mrs. Sonnier considered her faith in God and her Catholic religion to be the most important part of her life. While living in Lafayette she was a member of St. Mary’s Church. She was also a member and officer of the Caledonia Society of Lafayette. She loved to cook, do crossword and jigsaw puzzles and play Scrabble, at which she excelled.

For the past few years, Mrs. Sonnier had lived in New Orleans.

She is survived by one sister, Estelle Williams, of Humble Texas, one sister-in-law, Joyce Johnston of Rayne, and nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, William, Guy, Harris and Alfred Johnston.

Visiting hours were held from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 16, 2009, and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until services.

Arrangements were handled by Gossen Funeral Home in Rayne.