Rita B. Keller

RITA B. KELLER
October 15, 1954 - April 29, 2014
LAFAYETTE - Funeral services will be held for Rita B. Keller, 59, of Lafayette, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Lafayette at 1:30 p.m., Friday, May 2. Burial will follow in the Garden Mausoleum at St. John’s Cathedral Cemetery.
A native of Ville Platte, Mrs. Keller died Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at her residence after a 33-month battle with brain cancer. Her family was at her side during the last hours before her death. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in speech pathology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She enjoyed a 35-year speech pathology career, most recently in the area of voice, head and neck cancer and swallowing at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. She performed similar duties in the Division of Otolaryngolgy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Kirklin Clinic, Opelousas General Hospital and area school systems. Although she was very committed to her profession, her first love was caring for her husband and family and making special memories for her children and grandchildren. She learned the importance of faith, family and friends from her grandparents, parents and siblings. She enjoyed many holiday celebrations and Sunday dinners in Ville Platte and hosted many at her home in Lafayette. Affectionately known as “Gran” to her children and grandchildren, she enjoyed the time she spent with her family on annual vacations to the gulf coast, trips to the North Carolina mountains and excursions to San Francisco and Seattle. Over the years, she was a member of Catholic churches in the cities where she lived, most recently at Holy Cross Catholic Church. She was active in her daughter’s schools, serving as a board member at Sacred Heart School, as well as PTC president and a member of numerous school committees. She also served as a board member of Healing House - Hope for Grieving Children in Lafayette.
Survivors include her husband, Gary Keller of Lafayette; two daughters, Erin Boyne of Lafayette and Kym Keller of New York City, New York; one son, Greg Keller of Baton Rouge; two grandchildren, Andrew Keller and Caroline Keller; her parents, Jerome and Leona Buller of Ville Platte; and siblings Beth (Don) Fontenot, Steve (Becky) Buller and Anne (Mark) Pitre; and sister-in-law, Janet Welsh. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, Leigh Anne (Justin) Baker and her daughter, Camille, Jeff (Hannadi) Fontenot, Anne Marie Fontenot, Catherine (Chance) Perkins, Alex Buller, Josh Pitre, Zach Pitre, Anne-Elyse Pitre, Ashley (Adam) Matherne and her sons, Cole and Aidan, and Brad Welsh. She is also survived by her daughter’s father, Jim Boyne and his wife, Jorita.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Maria Buller Boyne; in-laws, Jim and Doris Keller; and grandparents, Steve and Birdie Castille and Allen and Mamie Buller.
Pall bearers will be Steve Buller, Greg Keller, Jeff Fontenot, Alex Buller, Josh Pitre, Zach Pitre and Brad Welsh. Honorary pall bearers will be Don Fontenot and Mark Pitre.
Jodi Bollich will sing “Prayer of St. Francis,” “You Are Mine,” “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman,” “Amazing Grace,” “Ave Maria” and “On Eagles’ Wings.”
Lectors will be Yvette Lavergne, Juliet Granger and Melissa Hardy.
Gift bearers will be Rita’s nieces, and grandchildren Andrew Keller and Caroline Keller.
Eucharistic ministers will be Leigh Anne Baker, Anne-Marie Fontenot, Zach Pitre, Anne Pitre and Steve Buller.
The family would like to thank Dr. Gene Brierre, Eric Buller P.A., Dr. Allan Appley, Mary Meaux P.A., Dr. Julian Krawczyk and Dr. Leo deAlvare and their staffs for the excellent care extended to us. Thanks also is extended to the Our Lady of Lourdes staff, nurses and therapists for the attention given to us during our procedures and treatments. The family also wishes to thank Hospice of Acadiana for assistance in their time of need, as well as faithful sitter, “Ms. Clay.”
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Rita’s name to your favorite charity. Some charities that could be considered are Our Lady of Lourdes Foundation, 4801 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette, La. 70508; Healing House, Hope for Grieving Children, 707 Lee Avenue, Lafayette, La. 70501; Sacred Heart School Foundation, 532 East Main Street, Ville Platte, La. 70586; and the American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be at Martin and Castille’s southside location Thursday, May 1, from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. and on Friday, May 2, from 8 a.m. until time of service.
A Rosary led by Steve Buller will be recited Thursday evening, May 1, at 6 p.m. in Martin and Castille Funeral Home.
Revs. Edward Degeyter and Howard Blessing will officiate.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com.
Martin and Castille Funeral Home of Lafayette will be in charge of arrangements.