Lena Mae (Guidry) Fontenot

Lena Mae (Guidry) Fontenot, wife of John M. Fontenot, passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at 8 p.m. at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. She died peacefully surrounded by her family.

Graveside services to honor Lena’s life were held at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Basile Sunday, May 10, 2020, at 4 p.m., with Reverend Pat Deshotel officiating.

In compliance with state regulations due to the COVID-19 Virus, a private viewing was held at Matthews and Son Funeral Home in Jennings Sunday, May 10, 2020, from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Lena was born Aug. 1, 1943, in Elton to Bennett and Mary Miller Guidry.

Lena was a licensed practical nurse working in various nursing homes, always showing compassion and loving care to her patients.

Lena was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family meant everything to her. She was known as “Maw Maw” to her grandchildren. She was a kind and caring person who always had a positive attitude. She loved to cook for her family, especially around the holidays. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Lena, who resided in Welsh, is survived by her husband of 17 years, John M. Fontenot. Other survivors are her three children, daughter, Mary Epperly Savoy, and two sons, Frank Bennett Epperly (wife Eve Epperly) and David Wayne Epperly. Surviving stepchildren are Johnnie Wayne, Melissa, Marcus, and Chris. She is also survived by four grandchildren (Michael, Eric, Chase and Cody), nine stepgrandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, Floyd Epperly; her father and mother, Bennett and Mary Miller Guidry; two sisters, Irene Manuel and Rena Trahan; and brother, Paul Guidry.

Those chosen to honor Lena as her pallbearers were Michael Savoy, Eric Savoy, Chase Savoy, Johnnie Wayne Reichard, Marcus Fontenot and German Gonzalez.

To extend online condolences, please visit www.matthewsandsonfuneralhome.net.