Esther Marie Dartez
“Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal.
I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course.
I have kept the faith.”
~ II Timothy 4:7
Esther Marie Dartez was born July 26, 1961, in Lafayette to the late Mary Essie Chavis-Dartez and Clarence Dartez.
She departed this life on Monday, June 21, 2021, at Christus Ochsner Saint Patrick Hospital in Lake Charles.
A Mass of Christian burial was held for Esther Marie Dartez at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.
A gathering of family and friends was held at Matthews and Son Funeral Home in Jennings Saturday, June 26, 2021, from 9-10:45 a.m., with a rosary recited at 10 a.m.
Burial followed in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery.
She attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lake Charles, where she taught religious education and was a member of Our Lady Perpetual Help Catholic Church.
Esther was a graduate of Jennings High School Class of 1979 and a graduate of Sowela Technical College. She retired from Calcasieu Parish School Board system. She was an active member of NAACP and loved to help her community. She enjoyed pets, basketball, reading, music, zydeco dancing, gatherings and being in the company of her friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She leaves to cherish her loving memories to her loving son, Nicholas James Simeon of Austin, Texas; her companion, Eddie “Poonie” Lewis, Sr., of Lake Charles; two grandchildren, D’maurion Simeon of Austin, Texas, and Waylin Thomas of Iowa; three great-grandchildren, Hunter, Harlan and Haylon Thomas, all of Lake Charles (Lebleu Settlement); seven sisters, Connie (Dorsey) Skinner and Ella (Winston) Williams, both of Jennings, Mary (William) Dartez Chambers and Lucretia (Calvin) Jenkins, both of Baton Rouge, and Earlene (Kenneth) Marchand, Vina (Foster) Charles and Betty Boutté, all of Lake Charles; three brothers, Clarence Dartez of Baton Rouge, Elridge Dartez of Lake Charles and Haley Dartez of Jennings; one godchild, Clarence Dwight Dartez; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Esther rejoices in heaven with her parents, Clarence, Sr., and Mary Essie Chavis Dartez; her sister, Maynell Dartez-Gilbeaux; her three brothers, Joseph, Howard and Ronald Dartez; one brother-in-law, Ronald Anthony Boutté; and four nieces, Bridget Gilbeaux-Thibodeaux, Katherine Boutté, Dawntisha Dartez and Janaiya Danee Dartez.
To extend online condolences, please visit www.matthewsandsonfuneralhome.net.